Vibration Monitoring
Vibration Monitoring
(OP)
Hello everyone,
I am looking for criteria regarding acceptable vibration limits at the foundations of historic buildings due to near by pile driving (construction activities). We are considering requiring vibration monitoring at an old building near the construction site. Is there a standard maximum particle velocity or standard monitoring method?
Thanks for your help,
I am looking for criteria regarding acceptable vibration limits at the foundations of historic buildings due to near by pile driving (construction activities). We are considering requiring vibration monitoring at an old building near the construction site. Is there a standard maximum particle velocity or standard monitoring method?
Thanks for your help,





RE: Vibration Monitoring
RE: Vibration Monitoring
RE: Vibration Monitoring
I will look for some tables; I think I have them at home, which relate particle velocity and frequency to damage. The tables were generated by USBR among others.
My recollection is that for unreinforced masonry, that 1.0 inches/sec at low frequencies could cause damage. You also need to remember that most of the data you see is for blasting, not a continuous activity such as pile driving.
RE: Vibration Monitoring
Just be sure the monitoring equipment covers the important frequencies for the buildings in question. Most of the blast monitoring equipment only covers 10 Hz to 20 kHz, while the important frequencies may be in the 0.5 to 1 Hz range. Failure to identify this important issue could leave the owner and design team exposed to significant risks should the historic buildings sustain damage.
Please see FAQ731-376 for great suggestions on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Vibration Monitoring
The article from Ground Engineering is a good start to predict the level of vibrations as a function of the hammer size and the distance. If a simple analysis of this type gives values far above 10 mm/s, there is no point in putting a contractor in a hot seat, it's better to change the type of pile and go gor bored piles ( even if the price doesn't seem as attractive... ). If it is decided to go for driven piles, then I agree with Focht3, monitoring is a must because first of all you get the real level of vibration obtained and secondly because the cost is minimum.
RE: Vibration Monitoring
Thanks again.
RE: Vibration Monitoring
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RE: Vibration Monitoring
Most published limits are for blast crteria. Pile driving involves lower amplitude vibrations that may cause settlement of the foundation soils which could result in signifcant and unacceptable differential settlement
RE: Vibration Monitoring
Please see FAQ731-376 for great suggestions on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.