Vibration Monitoring Guide - Part 1
Part 1: Monitoring Construction Vibrations
Why are vibrations monitored? What are the types and sources of construction vibration? How are vibrations reported?
Part 2: Vibration Monitoring Equipment
Part 3: Manual vs Automated Monitoring
Why Monitor Construction Vibrations
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Risk Management
Avoid excessive vibrations that can lead to property damage, litigation, project delays, and increased costs
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Construction Control
Inform construction engineers of excessive vibrations so they can take mitigating actions
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Compliance
Provide documentation for regulatory agencies
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Legal Defense
Help resolve damage claims
Sources of Construction Vibration
Transient Vibrations
- Blasting
- Impact Pile Driving
- Dynamic Compaction
- Crack and Seal Equipment
Continuous Vibrations
- Vibratory Compaction
- Vibratory Pile Driving
- Excavation Equipment
- Pavement Rubblizing
Reporting Construction Vibration
- Ground vibration propagates in waves.
- The wavefronts cause particle motion.
- Vibration monitors measure the velocity and frequency of particle motion.
- Velocity is reported in inches per second. Higher velocities are more damaging.
- Frequency is reported in Hz. Lower frequencies are more damaging.
Vibration Limit Chart
- The limit chart plots particle velocity against frequency.
- Points falling above the limit line are considered potentially damaging.
- Points falling below the limit line are considered non-damaging.
- The limit chart was developed for transient vibrations (blasting). Limits for continuous vibrations are typically 2 to 5 times more restrictive.
Histogram & Waveform Event Reports
- The histogram report, useful to demonstrate that the site is actively monitored, shows the peak particle velocity measured during successive time periods.
- The waveform event report shows a single event, typically triggered by a limit exceedance.
Part 2: Vibration Monitoring Equipment Part 3: Manual vs Automated Monitoring