Vibrations Caused by Pile Driving
Vibrations Caused by Pile Driving
Vibrations Caused by Pile Driving
conservative restrictions concerning vibration threshold due to differential settlement; the mechanism is well
levels can have significant economic consequences for known and documented in the geotechnical literature. The
society as well. In spite of the fact that damage caused by severity of the problem may be aggravated by ground
construction activities is rarely spectacular, the direct and vibrations but damage is primarily due to static effects.
indirect cost can be substantial. Category II - Ground distortion: is another static
A risk analysis of vibration problems in connection problem, although it is the result of wave propagation.
with a piling project should include the following aspects This problem category is less well known but has been
(the risk analysis shall be updated and modified during the documented in the geotechnical literature, for instance by
project, when field observations and results of vibration Holmberg et al. (1984), Massarsch and Broms (1991), and
measurements become available): Massarsch (1993). Horizontally propagating waves result
1. Description of the project, including method in an undulation of the surface layer to a depth
statement, objectives and responsibilities. corresponding to approximately one wave length. The
2. Assessment of risks associated with geological and propagating waves expose buildings or installations in the
geotechnical conditions, ground water conditions, as well ground to repeated sagging and hogging distortion
as stability problems and need for settlement observations. cycles. The magnitude of the distortion depends on the
If such risks exist, a separate geotechnical investigation wave length, the displacement amplitude and the number
shall be carried out. of cycles of the propagating surface wave. For soil
3. Documentation of buildings and installations in the compaction work or pile driving the number of distortion
vicinity and description of their foundation conditions. cycles can be very high.
4. Inventory of vibration-sensitive equipment and Category III - Cyclic loading: covers permanent
processes in nearby buildings. settlements and strength loss due to cyclic loading, mainly
5. Documentation of all water mains and installations in loose, granular soils. The main factors associated with
below ground. this category are the number of loading cycles and the
6. Acceptable vibration levels (peak values). These displacement amplitude (Massarsch, 2000). Although
shall be determined taking into account the site-specific indirectly related to wave propagation, this category is
conditions and shall consider both damage to buildings also not a dynamic problem.
and environmental effects on humans. Category IV - Vibration: is the only category which
7. Instructions where vibration measurements should is directly related to dynamic effects (inertial force). In
be performed as well as description of other monitoring this category, damage is a direct result of the vibration
systems. velocity or acceleration and the vibration frequency.
8. The document shall also provide information
concerning areas of special survey or inspection needs e.g.
chimneys, water mains, sewerage lines etc.
9. Specification of project documentation on site.
Damage Mechanisms
In undertaking a risk analysis, the potential
mechanisms of damage to buildings must be clearly
understood, and assessed individually. Damage in
connection with construction work can be caused by
different mechanisms. Many of the building damage
problems associated with construction are frequently
attributed to vibration, but are in fact caused by one of the
other mechanisms. Each of the damage categories noted
hereafter may, of course, occur simultaneously
(Massarsch, 2000).
Category I - Static displacement: such as heave or
lateral movements. Soil heave usually occurs in cohesive
soils during installation of displacement piles either by
static or dynamic installation methods (Massarsch and
Broms, 1989). Lateral soil movements and associated Fig. 2. Energy transfer from pile
stress changes can be due to soil excavation or slope hammer to surrounding soil and
movements. In Category I, structural damage is primarily
Summer 2004 The Magazine of the Deep Foundations Institute DEEP FOUNDATIONS 3
Fig. 3. Energy transfer from pile hammer to The surface wave velocity (Rayleigh wave velocity) is
surrounding soil and buildings. only slightly lower than the shear wave velocity and the
difference is negligible for practical purposes.
Another aspect, which is frequently not appreciated, is
Wave Propagation and Attenuation
the fact that the distance from the vibration source (e.g.
Wave attenuation is caused by two main factors: 1)
the pile tip) changes during driving of piles. Thus it is not
enlargement of the wave front as the distance from the
correct to establish empirical correlations of the vibration
source increases (geometric damping) and 2) internal
amplitude as a function of the horizontal distance on the
damping of the wave energy by the soil. The attenuation
4 DEEP FOUNDATIONS The Magazine of the Deep Foundations Institute Summer 2004
of ground vibrations is strongly affected by the absorption It is possible to determine a range of critical vibration
coefficient , which depends on the soil damping levels, based on the shear strain level generated by ground
coefficient D, the vibration frequency f and the shear wave vibrations. The shear strain level can be determined if
velocity. For the case of vibration propagation in an the vibration amplitude (particle velocity) v and the shear
elastic medium, the soil damping coefficient is in the order wave velocity cs are known: i.e. = v/ cs. For example, if a
of 3 6 %. However, at large strain in the near field of the shear wave velocity (medium dense sand) of 210 m/s, and
vibration source, soil damping can increase significantly. a particle velocity of 20 mm/s, are assumed, the shear
Values of the absorption coefficient , in the literature strain level is about 0.01 %. The threshold strain is defined
vary within a wide range and make a rational analysis as the value of cyclic shear strain such that the cyclic
difficult. shear strains less than t will not cause any densification of
dry granular soils, or any pore pressure build-up in water-
SETTLEMENTS IN SANDS AND SUSCEPTIBILITY saturated granular soil. Mohamed and Dobry (1987)
TO GROUND VIBRATIONS suggest that for most sands, the threshold strain is t
Many investigators and practitioners have in the past 0.01%.
attempted - and still attempt - to correlate compaction Figure 4 shows the relationship between vibration
behavior of sands with stress fluctuations and with the velocity (particle velocity) and shear wave velocity for
values of acceleration and frequency of vibration, two different levels of shear strain. If the shear strain level
associated with the compaction process. The key of 0.001% is not exceeded, the risk of ground settlement
conclusions are as follows, Massarsch (2000): or strength loss is very low. However, if the shear strain
Fundamental concepts and published data show that level caused by ground vibrations exceeds 0.1 % there is
shear strain is the primary factor causing compaction significant risk of settlements or loss of shear strength in
of granular material. cohesive soils. It should be noted that Fig. 4 does not
Compaction increases with shear strain amplitude. consider the effect of the number of load cycles.
The parameter that governs the amount of
compression is the steady-state transmitted energy.
This is valid for a wide range of frequencies. The
residual settlement cannot be correlated to
acceleration.
Compaction is not significantly affected by vertical
stress (for strain levels exceeding 0.05 %).
In the 10 cycles/min to 115 cycles/min (0.17 1.9
Hz) range, frequency of straining has no significant
effect on compaction behavior.
Even at static loading conditions, evaluations of
settlement are subject to considerable error (+/- 25
50 %). For complex conditions associated with cyclic
loading, it is unrealistic to expect that evaluations Fig. 4. Settlement risk and strength loss due to
could be made with even this degree of accuracy. vibration velocity.
However, an approximate evaluation of possible
settlement is adequate for many purposes. The second part of this paper will show how the
No significant behavioral differences were detected concepts introduced here can be used both to predict
between samples tested dry and similar samples tested ground vibrations and to establish rational vibration limits.
in saturated, but completely drained, conditions. (Part 2 to be published in Fall 2004 issue.)
Fall 2004 The Magazine of the Deep Foundations Institute DEEP FOUNDATIONS 1
16
vibration propagation methods (Massarsch, 1993). Case B 14
Resonance
is typical for displacement piles being driven into medium 12
dense and dense sand deposits. Most of the vibration
mm/s
10
energy will be dissipated along the shaft of the pile. At a
horizontal distance of twice the pile penetration, the 8
are supported by end-bearing piles in clay. If the following measuring frequency must cover the range of 5 150 Hz,
factors are chosen according to Tables 3 to 6: V0 = 9 mm/s, or 2-150Hz if the soil depth exceeds 20 m. Measurements
Fb = 1.00, Fm = 1.00, Fg = 1.00, the maximum allowable shall be carried out in the range 0.1 25 mm/s but not
vertical vibration amplitude measured at the base of the lower than the highest guidance level. The measuring
foundation is V = 9 mm/s. accuracy should be at least 0.1 mm/s.