A method for evaluating the comfort during blasting vibration based on energy absorbing principle

Abstract

Vibration from blasting operations exert negative effects on the comfort of nearby buildings (structures) resulting in the dissatisfaction of and even complaints from nearby residents. This problem impacts both blasting activities and social stability. Therefore, establishing a method for reasonably evaluating blasting vibration (BV) comfort and a standard can significantly reduce the complaints and civil disputes caused by construction activities involving blasting. This paper systematically reviewed the factors influencing BV comfort as well as the current evaluation indexes and criteria, and analyzed the mechanism of BV comfort. Starting with the three elements of BV, this paper developed a human body linear-elastic vibration model, according to which the effect of BV on the human body is regarded as an energy transmission and conversion process. Consequently, a comfort evaluation index, the human body absorbed blasting vibration energy (ABVE) index, was proposed. ABVE was used to determine the magnitude of human body ABVE in various bands, so as to quantitatively analyze the magnitude and frequency composition of ABVE. After a thorough investigation of the differences among BV energies produced by different blasting sources in terms of frequency composition, it was found that the main frequency bands of surface BV waves were closer to the natural frequency of vibration of the human body and thus exerted the greatest discomfort to humans.