Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual September 2013 California Department of Transportation Division of Environmental Analysis Environmental Engineering Hazardous Waste, Air, Noise, Paleontology Office © 2013 California Department of Transportation This page intentionally left blank CALTRANS Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Type of Report 3. Report Phase and Edition CT-HWANP-RT-13-069.25.3 Guidance Final 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Transportation and Construction Vibration September 2013 Guidance Manual 6. Author(s) 7. Caltrans Project Coordinator Jim Andrews, David Buehler, Harjodh Gill, Bruce Rymer, PE Wesley L. Bender Senior Engineer 8. Performing Organization Names and Addresses 9. Task Order No. California Department of Transportation 25 Division of Environmental Analysis Environmental Engineering 10. Contract No. : Hazardous Waste, Air, Noise, & Paleontology Office 1120 N Street, Mail Stop 27 43A0269 – ICF International Sacramento, CA 95814 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/env/noise/index.htm 11. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 12. Caltrans Functional Reviewers: California Department of Transportation Division of Environmental Analysis Division of Environmental Analysis: Environmental Engineering Jim Andrews & Bruce Rymer Hazardous Waste, Air, Noise, & Paleontology Office Sacramento, CA 95814 13. Supplementary Notes 14. External Reviewers This manual does not supersede previous Caltrans publications on earthborn vibration. It is intended to James Nelson supplement previous publications and to improve Rudy Hendriks knowledge and information related to this issue. 15. Abstract This manual provides practical guidance to Caltrans engineers, planners, and consultants who must address vibration issues associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) projects. The guidance and procedures provided in this manual should be treated as screening tools for assessing the potential for adverse effects related to human perception and structural damage. General information on the potential effects of vibration on vibration- sensitive research and advanced technology facilities is also provided, but a discussion of detailed assessment methods in this area is beyond the scope of this manual. This document is not an official policy, standard, specification, or regulation and should not be used as such. Its content is for informational purposes only. 16. Key Words 17. Distribution Statement 18. No. earthborn and construction vibration, of pages vibration measurement and instrumentation, air-overpressure, blasting, vibration Available to the general public 190 specification, peak particle velocity, compression wave, shear wave, Rayleigh wave, material dampening coefficients, human response to vibration, pile driver vibration, vibration annoyance criteria Form DEA F 001 (11-07) Reproduction of completed page authorized This page intentionally left blank Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual California Department of Transportation Division of Environmental Analysis Environmental Engineering Hazardous Waste, Air, Noise, Paleontology Office 1120 N Street, Room 4301 MS27 Sacramento, CA 95814 Contact: Bruce Rymer 916/653-6073 September 2013 © 2013 California Department of Transportation California Department of Transportation. 2013. Transportation and construction vibration guidance manual. September. Sacramento, CA. Contents Chapter 1 Introduction And Background ..................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 Basic Physics of Ground Vibration ............................................................. 5 2.1 Simple Vibratory Motion ................................................................ 5 2.2 Amplitude Descriptors ................................................................... 6 Chapter 3 Vibration Sources ........................................................................................ 9 Chapter 4 Vibration Propagation ................................................................................ 13 4.1 Vibration Wave Types ................................................................. 13 4.2 Vibration Propagation Models ..................................................... 14 Chapter 5 Vibration Receivers .................................................................................... 19 Chapter 6 Vibration Criteria ........................................................................................ 21 6.1 People ........................................................................................ 21 6.2 Structures ................................................................................... 23 6.3 Equipment .................................................................................. 26 Chapter 7 Vibration Prediction and Screening Assessment for Construction Equipment ...................................................................... 29 7.1 Pile Driving Equipment ................................................................ 30 7.1.1 Vibration Amplitudes Produced by Impact Pile Drivers ............................................................................... 31 7.1.2 Vibration Amplitudes Produced by Vibratory Pile Drivers ......................................................................... 33 7.1.3 Vibration Amplitudes Produced by Hydraulic Breakers............................................................................. 35 7.2 Vibration Produced by Other Construction Equipment .................................................................................. 35 7.3 Evaluating Potential Vibration Impacts ........................................ 37 7.3.1 Example Calculations ......................................................... 38 Chapter 8 Methods for Reducing Vibration ............................................................... 41 8.1 Wave Barriers ............................................................................. 41 8.2 Vibration Reduction for Impact Pile Drivers ................................. 42 8.3 Vibration Reduction for Hydraulic Breakers ................................. 44 8.4 Vibration Reduction Measures for Other Construction Equipment .............................................................. 45 8.5 Vibration Reduction for Vehicle Operations ................................. 45 Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual Page i September 2013 California Department of Transportation Contents 8.6 Vibration Reduction for Train Operations .................................... 46 Chapter 9 General Procedures for Addressing Vibration Issues ............................. 47 9.1 Vibration Concerns about Existing Activities and Operations .................................................................................. 47 9.2 Vibration Concerns about Planned Activities and Operations .................................................................................. 48 9.2.1 Step 1. Identify Potential Problem Areas Surrounding the Project Site............................................... 49 9.2.2 Step 2. Determine Conditions That Exist Before Construction Begins ................................................ 52 9.2.3 Step 3. Inform the Public about the Project and Potential Construction-Related Consequences ................................................................... 53 9.2.4 Step 4. Schedule Work to Reduce Adverse Effects ................................................................................ 54 9.2.5 Step 5. Design Construction Activities to Minimize Vibration .............................................................. 55 9.2.6 Step 6. Notify Nearby Residents and Property Owners That Vibration-Generating Activity Is Imminent ............................................................................ 55 9.2.7 Step 7. Monitor and Record Vibration Effects from Construction ............................................................... 55 9.2.8 Step 8. Respond to and Investigate Complaints ......................................................................... 56 9.3 Vibration Study Reports .............................................................. 56 Chapter 10 Vibration Measurement and Instrumentation ......................................... 59 10.1 Vibration Measurement Equipment ............................................. 59 Chapter 11 Vibration and Air Overpressure from Blasting ....................................... 61 11.1 Introduction to Blasting ............................................................... 61 11.1.1 Blasting Terminology .......................................................... 61 11.1.2 Blasting Process ................................................................ 65 11.2 Vibration and Air Overpressure Concerns that Arise from Blasting ............................................................................... 67 11.3 Methods of Predicting Blast Vibration and Air Overpressures ............................................................................ 69 11.3.1 Predicting Blast Vibration ................................................... 69 11.3.2 Predicting Air Overpressures from Blasting ........................ 72 11.4 Criteria for Assessing Human Response to Blasting and Potential for Structural Damage ........................................... 74 11.4.1 Human Response .............................................................. 74 11.4.2 Effect of Blast Vibration on Materials and Structures