Maximum vertical ground displacement of seismic waves generated by explosive blasts

Abstract

ABSTRACT An approximate first-power relationship was found between the maximum vertical component of ground displacement and the charge size from a number of quarry shots. The maximum vertical ground displacement, normalized to the Rainier (1.7 kt.) underground nuclear shot, is presented for a series of explosive shots ranging in size from 1 ton 19 kilotons and at distances of 1 to nearly 1,000 kilometers. The following empirical equations were found to fit the observed data:A=0.65±0.15R3/2from1to100kilometersA=(0.013±0.003)e−(0.0072±0.0003)RR1/2from100to1,000kilometers where A is the maximum vertical component of ground displacement in centimeters and R is the distance in kilometers.