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The effect of discontinuity frequency on ground

vibrations produced from bench blasting: A
case study

Article in Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering September 2008

DOI: 10.1016/j.soildyn.2007.11.006

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 ARTICLE IN PRESS

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694

www.elsevier.com/locate/soildyn

The effect of discontinuity frequency on ground vibrations produced

from bench blasting: A case study
Hakan Ak, Adnan Konuk
Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Mining Engineering Department, 26480 Eskisehir, Turkey
Received 2 March 2007; received in revised form 14 November 2007; accepted 19 November 2007

Abstract

A good number of empirical formulae and methods dealing with the analysis of the effects of blast-induced ground vibrations have
been developed. The most common approach suggested for estimating the attenuation of particle velocity on the ground is to scale the
distance (scaled distance, SD). This approach makes it possible to estimate the peak particle velocity when the amount of explosive
charge or the distance or both are altered.
Many parameters known to have an inuence on particle velocity have been used for particle velocity prediction equations. Some of
these parameters are maximum charge per delay, the distance between the station and shot location, burden, inelastic attenuation factor
and site factors. However, the impacts of the discontinuities existing on the benches where blasts are detonated on the propagation
velocity of seismic waves have not been taken into consideration in these equations.
This study aims to examine the impacts of the discontinuity frequency parameter derived through geological measurements carried out
on the blasting benches or nearby in a quarry mine (Supren, Eskisehir) in Turkey on the propagation of blast-induced ground vibrations.
Developed based on the geological observations carried out on the benches, the model was formed by adding discontinuity frequency
parameter to the particle velocity prediction model suggested by Nicholls et al. [Nicholls HR, Johnson CF, Duvall WI. Blasting
vibrations and their effects on structures. Bulletin no. 656. Washington, DC: US Bureau of Mines; 1971]. In order to research the effect
of the discontinuity frequency in the bench on the blast-induced ground vibrations, the relationship between the recorded peak particle
velocity, scaled distance and discontinuity frequency was statistically evaluated for the site. The established relationship and the results of
the study are presented.
r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Bench blasting; Vibrations; Peak particle velocity; Discontinuity frequency

1. Introduction The worldwide acknowledged particle velocity prediction

In addition to the amount of explosives used and the
distance between the blasting location and the settlement
area, site factors such as geological structure, topography,
physical and mechanical properties of rocks play a
signicant role in the extent to which a settlement area
located at a certain distance from the explosion source is
affected by ground vibrations. These factors are included in
various forms in the equations developed by various
researchers to predict the blast-induced ground vibrations.
Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 222 239 37 50;
fax: +90 222 239 36 13.
E-mail address: hak@ogu.edu.tr (H. Ak).
equations are mentioned below.
Langefors and Kilhstrom [2] suggest the following
equation to predict the peak particle velocity at various
charge amounts:
 
W b
PPV K 3=2 , (1)
D
where PPV is peak particle velocity (mm/s), D the distance
between the blasting and measuring locations (m), W the
maximum charge per delay (kg), K the ground transmission
coefcient and b is a specic geological constant.
Duvall and Fogelson [3], Nicholls et al. [1] and Siskind
et al. [4] state that scaled distance (SD) should be found by
dividing the distance by the square root of charge per delay

0267-7261/$ - see front matter r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.soildyn.2007.11.006
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694
and propagation laws can be dened as in Eq. (2). This
formula has been one of the most widely used up to the
present by numereous investigators, ofcial organs, users
and manufacturers of explosives [5].
 
D b
PPV K p . (2)
W ground vibration, air blast and y rocks. Kahriman et al.
p
The expression (D= W ) in the equation is dened as the
SD. SD is derived through the combination of charge per
delay and the distances between the blasting and measuring
locations.
Some authors such as Attewell et al. [6] and Holmberg
and Persson [7] do not take into consideration a particular
charge symmetry and use the following general equation:
PPV K  W a  Db . (3)
Gupta et al. [8] suggested the following equation. Here, the
expression ea(D/W) represents the inelastic attenuation factor.
 
D b aD=W
PPV K p e . (4)
W However, a more detailed study or research into the impacts
Roy [9] considered that when seismic waves propagate
through a rock mass, they encounter an increasing volume
of rock mass, causing a decrease in energy density. In the
process of this diminishing energy due to geometrical spread-
ing which also cause energy loss during wave propagation
and subsequently amplitude is decreased. The equation is of
the form
 
D 1
PPV n K p . (5) from blast-induced damage. Hao et al. [20] discussed the
W
The empirical constant n is related to the category of
parameters which is inuenced by rock properties and
geological discontinuities (e.g., faults, fractures, joints,
ssures, bedding planes), whereas the empirical constant K
is related to the category of parameters which is inuenced by
design parameters including charge weight, distance from
explosion source, charge diameters, delay interval, burden,
spacing, sub-drilling, stemming length. As n is a decay
constant, its value should always be negative [10].
Following their studies aiming at determining the site
factors, Bilgin et al. [11] studied whether PPV changed with
burden and proposed the following equation by adding
burden parameter to particle velocity prediction. Where B
is the burden,
 
D a
PPV K p Bb . (6)
W The site studied is a quarry near the village of Supren,
Lots of PPV-based studies for controlling environmental
effect of blasting by predicting site-specic parameters have
been published in literature. Tripathy and Gupta [12]
studied the attenuation law for blast vibration in different
geological formations; the blast vibration data acquired
from site-specic studies at 14 different project sites has been
used. Kahriman [13] studied on the prediction of the
parameters of ground vibration produced from bench
687
blasting at a limestone quarry in Turkey. Adhikari et al.
[14] carried out a study to derive the site constants by using
USBM predictor equation for individual 27 limestone
quarries, located in various parts of India. Kuzu and Ergin
[15] evaluated the impacts resulting from quarry-blasting
operation on nearby buildings and structures as it generates
[16] investigated the results of ground vibration measure-
ments carried out in Hisarcik Boron open pit mine for
environmental impacts of bench blasting. Khandelwal and
Singh [17] evaluated the blast-induced ground vibration
predictors and predicted the blast-induced ground vibration
level at a magnesite mine in tecto-dynamically vulnerable
hilly terrain in the Himalayan region in India by using the
different PPV predictors. Yun et al. [18] presented observa-
tions and analysis of ground vibration caused by bench
blasting on a highway construction site near the cultural
heritage site of Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, China.
Site factors are taken into consideration in all the particle
velocity prediction equations proposed by researchers.
of discontinuities existing on the bench where the blasts are
detonated upon the blast-induced ground vibrations has not
been conducted yet. But some investigators have been
signied that determination of the discontinuities and
investigating the role of discontinuity in stress wave
propagation is important. Wu et al. [19] studied the
propagation characteristics of blast-induced shock waves in
a jointed rock mass and stated that the effects of rock joints
on shock-wave propagation can be used to protect structures
effects of rock joints on the characteristics of stress wave
propagation such as peak value attenuation, spectrum and
spatial variations. Kuzu [21] pointed out the effect of
geological factors in predicting the level of blast-induced
ground vibrations and emphasized that determination of the
discontinuities and investigating the role of the main
discontinuity in stress wave propagation is important.
In this study, whether the PPV changes or not with the
frequency of discontinuities on the benches where the
blasts are detonated was examined and a new prediction
equation was developed by adding the discontinuity
frequency parameter to the particle velocity prediction
equation of Nicholls et al. [1].
2. Description of the application area and its geological
structure
approximately 20 km south of Eskisehir province in the
Central Anatolia region of Turkey (Fig. 1).
Since 1999, the dolomitic limestone in the site has been
extracted for use as concrete aggregate or road-covering
material after being processed in a crushingsieving plant.
The daily capacity of the crushingsieving plant is
approximately 4500 tons. The facility operates with two
shifts daily and approximately 300 days annually.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
688 H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694
Fig. 1. Location map of the Supren quarry in Turkey.
The material fed into the plant is rst broken through
drillingblasting. The drillingblasting tasks are performed
on two benches. Depending on the properties of the rock,
bench heights vary between 10 and 21 m. An Atlas Copco
ROC D7 drill, which can drill holes of 89-mm diameter, is
used to drill the blasting holes.
The basement around the Supren area consists of
metamorphic schists. The metamorphic schists are com-
posed of amphibolite schist, chlorite schist, quartzite,
bluish gray phyllite and sericite schists underlying the
Neogene terrestrial deposits [22].
The Supren region is dominated by crystallized limestone
(marbles) of Triassic age and there are also Triassic meta-
morphic schists at the bottom. This crystallized limestone
lies on the schist concordantly. Examination of the
geological structure of the area shows that the Paleozoic
units are widely exposed in the area.
Paleozoic crystallized limestone, as the main unit in the
area, has been intensely affected by the tectonic movements
in the region. There are some visible large- and small-scale
faults in this unit. Displaying a cataclastic texture in
general, this limestone occurs in white or gray-white colors
and presents redpinkyellow veins and bands. It possesses
a brecciated appearance. Calcite crystals of 0.91.9 mm in
size are present in the form of bands [23].
According to Mohs scale, the hardness of the rock in the
site (crystallized limestone) is 34, its water absorption
capacity is 0.1% and volumetric water absorption is 0.3%
[23]. On the basis of uniaxial pressure tests and indirect
tension tests carried out on the samples in accordance with
the standards of the International Society of Rock
Mechanics (ISRM), the average uniaxial compressive
strength of the rock is 692 kg/cm2 and the average tension
strength is 104 kg/cm2 [24]. Some physical and mechanical
properties of rock in the site are given in Table 1.
3. Case study
3.1. Discontinuity measurements
In the site where the blasts were performed, the data on
discontinuities (dip, strike, discontinuity spacing, disconti-
Table 1
Some physical and mechanical properties of rock [23,24]
Parameter Value Unit
Hardness 34 Mohs
Density 2.74 g/cm3
Water absorption capacity 0.1 %
Volumetric water absorption 0.3 %
Porosity 0.1 %
Uniaxial compressive strength 692 kg/cm2
Tension strength 104 kg/cm2
Strike resistance 8 kg/cm2
Bending resistance 183 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity 49,400 kg/cm2
nuity aperture, etc.) were recorded on the benches where
the discontinuities could be observed easily. Through this
data, discontinuity frequency (l) values on each measure-
ment line were determined. Discontinuity frequency
represents the number of discontinuities in 1 m.
The measurement of the discontinuity parameters was
performed on 12 measurement lines in total. In other
words, discontinuity parameters were not measured on
each of the total 40 benches where the blasts were
performed. Instead, the benches where the discontinuities
could be observed most easily were identied and
measurements were performed in these locations. Fig. 2
shows a section from discontinuity measurement line no. 2,
where the discontinuities could be observed clearly. When
recording the discontinuity parameters on measurement
lines, the discontinuities that could affect the blast-induced
ground vibrations dramatically were taken into considera-
tion (X2 mm).
By processing the strike and dip data about the dis-
continuity measurements performed on each measurement
line into the StereoPro program and by means of the stereo-
graphic projection technique, Lambert projections and Rose
diagrams for the dip and strike values were constructed
(Fig. 3). These diagrams provide signicant data about the
statistical distribution of the discontinuities in the area.
As a result of the assessments made by means of the
projection technique using the StereoPro program, the
average discontinuity strike direction in the site was
determined as N25E, the discontinuity dip direction as
65NW and dip angle as 831 [24].
As seen clearly through the Rose diagrams of disconti-
nuity directions, the directions are most frequent in the
N10EN15E interval (Fig. 3b). Discontinuity dip values,
on the other hand, become more frequent in 85901
intervals (Fig. 3c). This diagram illustrates the fact that the
discontinuities in the area are almost or completely vertical.
Through the calculations made based upon the disconti-
nuity measurements on each line, the average discontinuity
spacing was determined as 73 cm, discontinuity frequency
as 1.90 m1 and the average discontinuity aperture as
2.5 cm. The average discontinuity spacing, aperture and
frequency values measured on each discontinuity line are
presented in Table 2.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694
3.2. Blasting parameters
In the total 40 blasting operations, ANFO was used as
the primary explosive and gelatin dynamite or emulsion
Fig. 2. Discontinuity measurement line no.2.
Fig. 3. Lambert projection for measured discontinuities (a) and Rose diagrams based on strike (b) and dip (c) values.
689
explosives (Emulite-100) were used as the primer. Delayed
electric blasting caps with 30 ms delay were used to ignite
explosive charges.
Fig. 4 illustrates a sample drilling geometry implemented
for the blasts within the site. The blast hole diameters are
89 mm. The bench slope angle (y) is approximately 801 and
the holes are drilled at the same inclination. Depending on
the bench height (H), the hole height (L) varies between 10
and 22 m. The sub-drilling (J) is approximately 0.51 m and
stemming length (ho) is around 3 m. The burden distance
of the holes drilled (B) and the spacing (S) vary
approximately between 2.5 and 3 m. The delay interval
between rows of shotholes for the blasts was designed to
be 30 ms.
3.3. Particle velocity measurements
Forty blasts were recorded in four different directions in
order to determine the attenuation of the blast-induced
ground vibrations in the site and the impacts of the
discontinuity frequency parameter upon the blast-induced
ground vibrations. The blasting locations and the locations
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
690 H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694

Table 2
The discontinuity parameters determined on discontinuity measurement lines

Parameters Line no.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Average discontinuity spacing (cm) 71 96 69 63 54 38 85 186 65 62 15 74

Average discontinuity aperture (mm) 30.3 127.1 47.6 23.5 3.1 5.3 6.9 17.3 10.3 19.8 3.5 4.7
Discontinuity frequency, l (m1) 1.42 1.04 1.46 1.58 1.87 2.63 1.18 0.54 1.54 1.62 6.54 1.34

Fig. 4. General design parameters of bench blasts for Supren quarry.

Fig. 5. Map of blasting and vibration measuring locations.

in which the particle velocity measurements of each blast
were performed are illustrated in Fig. 5.
The distances between blasting and measuring locations
were determined by means of a 12-channel Garmin GPS
device and measuring equipment.
The vibration components of the blasts were measured
by means of White Mini-Seis seismograph. This device has
a 2250 Hz frequency pass band and digitizes 1024 samples
per second. The triggering level is 0.064 mm/s as seismic
and 106 mm/s for noise. The device possesses three
geophones (seismic receiver) (longitudinal, vertical and
transversal) [25].
The data on the particle velocity of each of the three
components recorded by the White Seis II seismic
measuring device are presented in Table 3. Also in the
same table, the dominant frequency values of each blast,
the distance between blast and measuring locations, the
values for charge per delay and SD are presented.
3.4. The statistical analysis of measurement results
The measurement results were rst modeled according to
the equation by Nicholls et al. [1], which has been the most
widely used among international propagation equations. In
addition to PPV, the models for the velocity values
measured at each of the three components namely PVL
(particle velocity longitudinal), PVV (particle velocity
vertical) and PVT (particle velocity transverse) were carried
out and the site factors and correlation coefcients for each
one were determined by means of Statistica software.
Modeling results are shown in Table 4. Here, r represents
the percentage of the relationship among the coefcents of
each model (correlation coecient). K and b, on the other
hand, represent the site factors in the models. As seen in
Table 4, the relationship of PPV, PVL, PVV and PVT
components with the SD, according to the model by
Nicholls et al. [1], were determined as 66.16%, 67.87%,
68.61% and 57.39%, respectively. In Table 4, the site
parameters determined for particle velocity components
are also presented.
The model by Nicholls et al. [1] was made use of when
forming the new particle velocity prediction model devel-
oped based on the discontinuity frequency parameter.
As mentioned earlier, since the discontinuity frequency
variable to be used in forming the particle velocity
prediction model could not be determined in each blasting
location, the value of the discontinuity frequency para-
meter determined on a measurement line was assigned to
the nearby blasting location (Fig. 6). Discontinuity
measuring lines and the blasting locations to which the
discontinuity frequency value measured on that disconti-
nuity line was assigned (in circle) are illustrated in Fig. 6.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694 691

Table 3
Blast vibration data recorded from Supren quarry [24]

Event Particle velocity (mm/s) Frequency (for Charge per delay, Distance, Scaled distance, SD
no. max.) (Hz) W (kg) D (m) (m/kg0.5)
Peak particle Longitudinal Vertical peak Transverse peak
velocity (PPV) peak (PVL) (PVV) (PVT)

1 3.56 3.56 2.29 1.27 15.50 208 210 14.5

2 8.13 8.13 3.81 3.30 7.50 428 240 11.6
3 10.92 9.91 10.92 3.30 10.00 400 140 7.0
4 3.56 3.56 2.29 3.30 5.13 457 210 9.8
5 2.03 2.03 1.27 1.78 5.63 440 210 10.0
6 10.92 10.92 2.79 5.33 5.13 508 130 5.8
7 4.32 3.05 2.29 4.32 5.88 700 170 6.4
8 5.59 4.32 1.78 5.59 8.25 795 170 6.0
9 4.19 3.18 2.79 4.19 5.13 1080 190 5.8
10 4.06 4.06 1.52 2.67 8.63 568 340 14.3
11 1.40 1.40 1.14 1.40 10.00 106 130 12.6
12 11.18 9.27 6.86 11.18 4.75 933 130 4.3
13 2.16 0.89 2.16 1.91 5.00 612 240 9.7
14 9.14 7.37 9.14 8.00 7.25 794 130 4.6
15 15.75 15.75 4.95 8.64 11.50 263 100 6.2
16 31.50 31.50 24.89 19.30 14.50 1077 160 4.9
17 4.06 2.29 4.06 2.41 12.63 416 140 6.9
18 3.43 3.18 3.43 1.78 17.13 616 180 7.3
19 7.37 7.37 5.72 3.18 4.38 972 200 6.4
20 2.16 1.40 1.52 2.16 10.50 366 160 8.4
21 17.78 17.78 15.24 16.76 5.25 1619 140 3.5
22 26.42 17.78 12.70 26.42 17.88 2512 180 3.6
23 7.62 7.62 7.62 7.62 16.81 1720 190 4.6
24 39.62 39.62 20.32 17.27 12.1 1021 170 5.3
25 1.78 1.78 1.02 1.27 15.5 270 310 18.9
26 17.27 17.27 16.26 11.43 7.38 1795 280 6.6
27 9.65 8.64 9.65 5.59 7.50 2077 200 4.4
28 28.19 28.19 14.22 13.21 7.63 1602 320 8.0
29 16.51 12.95 16.51 13.21 9.75 1674 220 5.4
30 22.86 19.05 16.00 22.86 4.88 1725 180 4.3
31 47.75 47.75 10.92 29.46 4.88 377 80 4.1
32 78.23 78.23 49.78 76.20 28.25 733 100 3.7
33 17.27 17.27 15.49 13.97 4.63 1951 260 5.9
34 9.14 4.32 4.83 9.14 8.88 1686 390 9.5
35 10.41 10.41 7.11 8.38 6.13 1970 320 7.2
36 12.95 11.94 12.95 9.65 4.75 1280 330 9.2
37 62.99 38.61 40.64 62.99 18.00 1272 190 5.3
38 30.48 30.48 8.89 11.68 5.00 705 80 3.0
39 27.18 26.92 17.78 27.18 9.00 1727 130 3.1
40 69.09 66.04 69.09 40.64 5.25 1511 95 2.4

Table 4
Site parameters according to Nicholls prediction equation

Model Site factors Particle velocity

Peak PPV Longitudinal PVL Vertical PVV Transverse PVT

h ib K 234.53 248.13 288.62 149.52
Nicholls et al. PPV K pD
W b 1.5357 1.6360 1.9806 1.4223
r (%) 66.16 67.87 68.61 57.39

That is to say, the discontinuity parameters in bench- The parameters to be used in the new model to be
blasting locations within circles are represented through the developed were then derived. The derived parameters in the
parameters of the closest discontinuity measurement line. proposed model are presented in Table 5.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
692 H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694

When developing the model, the addition of the dis-
continuity frequency parameter into the model by Nicholls
et al. [1] was tested in several ways and it was determined
that the model in which the relationship between variables
was maximized was in Eq. (7). In the equation, l represents
the discontinuity frequency and a represents discontinuity
frequency coefcient.
 b
D Table 6. In the table, Loss represents the square of
PPV K p la . (7)
W
Fig. 6. The map showing the blasting locations to which the discontinuity
value (l) is assigned (Jdiscontinuity measurement coordinates, E
bench blasting locations).
The Statistica software was used for the calculations of
the model. By making use of the fact that the program
could be used in solving non-linear equations, the
LevenbergMarquardt method, which utilizes the least
squares method and in which the most accurate conclusion
is reached through iteration, was employed as well.
The iterations (repetition approach) performed, res-
pectively, by Statistica in the calculations are shown in
differences in the lowest squares method (Loss (observa-
tion PPVestimation PPV)2). The model calculations come
to an end at the moment the Loss function is the lowest
(iteration 26).
Tested by the program, the K, b and a values when the
squares of the differences are the lowest become the nal
coefcients of the PPV prediction model. Therefore, the
model, which was developed through adding the disconti-
nuity frequency parameter to the model by Nicholls et al.
[1] is presented in Eq. (8).
PPV 245:975SD1:473  l0:305 . (8)
In addition to the model parameters determined for
PPV, the model parameters for the velocity values
measured at each of the three components (PVL, PVV
and PVT) and the respective correlation coefcients are
shown in Table 7. It is seen through this table that the
correlation coefcient representing the relationship be-
tween recorded PPV, SD and l is 66.55%.
The three-dimension graphic illustrates the relationships
among PPV, SD and l, which are the dependent and
independent variables of the model developed by means of
Statistica (Fig. 7). According to the graphic, the increase in
discontinuity frequency (l) when the SD takes low values
results in a dramatic decrease in PPV. The more the SD

Table 5
The variables used in the model

Event no. SD PPV Line no. Assigned frequency value, l (m1) Event no. SD PPV Line no. Assigned frequency value, l (m1)

1 14.5 3.56 1 1.42 21 3.5 17.78 3 1.46

2 11.6 8.13 1 1.42 22 3.6 26.42 1 1.42
3 7.0 10.92 1 1.42 23 4.6 7.62 6 2.63
4 9.8 3.56 11 6.54 24 5.3 39.62 6 2.63
5 10.0 2.03 11 6.54 25 18.9 1.78 11 6.54
6 5.8 10.92 2 1.04 26 6.6 17.27 6 2.63
7 6.4 4.32 10 1.62 27 4.4 9.65 4 1.58
8 6.0 5.59 11 6.54 28 8.0 28.19 9 1.54
9 5.8 4.19 10 1.62 29 5.4 16.51 10 1.62
10 14.3 4.06 10 1.62 30 4.3 22.86 5 1.87
11 12.6 1.40 2 1.04 31 4.1 47.75 3 1.46
12 4.3 11.18 2 1.04 32 3.7 78.23 5 1.87
13 9.7 2.16 12 1.34 33 5.9 17.27 12 1.34
14 4.6 9.14 3 1.46 34 9.5 9.14 8 0.54
15 6.2 15.75 10 1.62 35 7.2 10.41 3 1.46
16 4.9 31.50 11 6.54 36 9.2 12.95 12 1.34
17 6.9 4.06 9 1.54 37 5.3 62.99 8 0.54
18 7.3 3.43 9 1.54 38 3.0 30.48 12 1.34
19 6.4 7.37 12 1.34 39 3.1 27.18 4 1.58
20 8.4 2.16 9 1.54 40 2.4 69.09 3 1.46
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694 693

Table 6
The iterations performed in the calculations

Iteration no. Loss K b a Iteration no. Loss K b a

1 160.884 0.100 0.100 0.100 14 98.959 67.970 0.832 0.108

2 159.556 0.174 0.401 0.536 15 93.357 95.244 0.950 0.119
3 158.372 0.230 0.506 0.638 16 90.524 149.787 1.259 0.172
4 156.681 0.305 0.600 0.719 17 88.250 204.337 1.403 0.213
5 154.373 0.421 0.692 0.774 18 87.872 241.730 1.486 0.251
6 151.976 0.618 0.740 0.706 19 87.848 243.791 1.477 0.268
7 148.698 0.964 0.728 0.482 20 87.845 244.503 1.476 0.280
8 143.421 1.694 0.717 0.095 21 87.844 244.982 1.475 0.288
9 137.761 3.332 0.528 0.167 22 87.843 245.329 1.474 0.294
10 130.954 6.680 0.222 0.107 23 87.843 245.578 1.474 0.298
11 122.489 13.465 0.088 0.070 24 87.843 245.757 1.474 0.301
12 113.185 27.081 0.415 0.075 25 87.843 245.884 1.473 0.303
13 104.264 40.716 0.495 0.066 26 87.842 245.975 1.473 0.305

Table 7
Statistical results of the proposed model

New model Site factors Particle velocity

Peak PPV Longitudinal PVL Vertical PVV Transverse PVT

 b K 245.975 249.923 312.299 236.966
PPV K
pD la
W b 1.473 1.711 2.155 1.461
a 0.305 0.194 0.292 1.190
r (%) 66.55 68.25 68.95 62.34

value increases, the less the impact discontinuity frequency

has on PPV.
That the increase in discontinuity frequency displays
an attenuating effect on PPV could be explained in this
way: a good fragmentation cannot be expected from
blasting done within an intact rock without discontinuities
and within a site without free surfaces at the same time.
In a case like that, it is inevitable that a vast majority
of the blast energy propagates in the surrounding area in
the form of seismic waves. During a blast performed on a
bench with at least one free surface, on the other hand, a
zone where tensile stresses occur due to the effect of wave
collisions formed between the blast hole and the free
surface emerges due to the fact that blast-induced long-
itudinal waves hit the free surface and return. Due to the
interference between the longitudinal waves hitting and
returning from the free surface, fragmentation occur in the
rocks within this zone and a greater amount of blasting
energy is used for fragmentation. That is to say, the
presence of a free surface aids in attenuating seismic wave
amplitudes.
Similarly, when the discontinuities on the bench are in Fig. 7. Non-linear PPV estimation graphics.
parallel to the bench face, it facilitates fragmentation and
the presence of discontinuities in this direction cause
seismic amplitudes (and hence particle velocities) to velocities because some of the explosive energy is dis-
attenuate. When the discontinuities are perpendicular to charged along the discontinuities.
the face, on the other hand, though fragmentation does not In short, the higher frequency of discontinuities, no
occur properly this time, a decrease occurs again in seismic matter what their positions and directions on the bench,
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
694 H. Ak, A. Konuk / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 28 (2008) 686694
causes less explosive energy to propagate in the form of
seismic waves. Therefore, a decrease in the environmental
effects of blast-induced seismic waves occurs.
4. Conclusion
As a result of the particle velocity measurements in a
certain number of explosions by means of seismic devices
and in accordance with ground vibration propagation
equations, the site parameters of that site can be
determined. The site parameters obtained provide us with
the propagation equation of the blast-induced seismic
waves in that area. The propagation equation, then, is used
to keep the particle velocity within certain limits through
alterations to the explosive parameters.
By making use of the data from the particle velocities mea-
sured in the site and in accordance with the model by Nicholls
et al. [1], which has been the most widely used one among
international propagation equations, the site parameters were
determined. According to this model, the correlation coef-
cient between PPV and SD was determined as 66.16%.
On the other hand, it is evident that the correlation
coefcient in the prediction model which was developed
through adding a discontinuity frequency parameter to this
equation is almost alike in comparison with the Nicholls
model (66.55%). According to the model developed, it is
determined that discontinuity frequency is a parameter that
attenuates PPV. It is also seen that this situation is
observed more clearly when SD particularly takes lower
values and that the effect of this parameter decreases in
large-scale distances. In other words, when SD takes low
values (SD 14 m/kg0.5), considerable decrease of PPV
with the increasing of discontinuity frequency is realized.
However; when SD takes higher values than 4, smooth
change of PPV depending upon discontinuity frequency is
observed. Therefore, it can be said that the effect of
discontinuity frequency has an important role on the
change of PPV when the SD takes low values.
Considering that the discontinuity measuring locations
were chosen in a way covering a vast area of the quarry, and
therefore of the blasting locations, quite signicant results
were obtained in this study. When structural discontinuity
parameters are measured on each blasting bench, however, it
is perfectly natural that more sound results can be obtained.
In conclusion, the particle velocity propagation model
developed can easily be used for keeping the blast-induced
ground vibrations under control in mines like quarries
where the structural discontinuities in the rock on benches
can be easily measured.
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