A Genetic Algorithm-Based Approach for Designing the Blasting Pattern for Excavation in Basaltic Rock Formations at Navi Mumbai International Airport Construction Site in India
摘要
Navi Mumbai International Airport is being constructed by flattening a 92-m high Ulwe hill. Drilling & blasting has been adopted for the rock excavation to flatten the hill. The blasting operation at this site has various specific challenges, including the presence of residential houses, high-rise buildings, and electric lines nearby. It is imperative to control the ground vibration within safety limits when the blasting is done near the structures. This is done by devising the controlled blasting pattern, mostly devised using a predictive model. Genetic algorithm approach predicts the output parameters under various combinations of the input parameters. The predictive model is initially trained in this approach, and the fitness value is defined based on the expected vibration level. The various combinations of input parameters are chosen from a population generated using the genetic algorithm. Mutation and cross-over are further performed to maximize fitness. The developed predictive model for the construction site using this approach was accurate up to the acceptable level. Hence, the predictive model was further used to devise the controlled blasting pattern for the critical blasting operations at the site.