Analysis of Dynamic Compaction Effects – Tavira Case Study

Abstract

Ground vibrations are associated with different types of elastic waves propagating on the ground, and wave propagation depends on the soil stiffness, dum** and distance from the source. Urban activities also generate vibration, which are mainly associated to traffic of heavy vehicles, railway compositions, infrastructures construction, and maintenance. On site construction, ground wave propagation occurs when pile driving, dynamic compaction, blasting, and operation of heavy construction equipment is required. Regarding vibration energy analysis in structures, the Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) is the reference parameter and according to the Portuguese standard NP 2074 (2004), “Evaluation of the vibration impact on buildings, caused by explosions or similar construction procedures”, the PPV can range from 5 mm/s up to 20 mm/s, for rigid structures founded, respectively, on sandy soils and soft clays, or rocks and hard clays. The study hereby presented is a real case study where the effect of heavy vibratory tandem compaction, associated to the construction of an industrial parking in the vicinity, caused extensive wall cracks on a reinforced concrete structure, located 60 m from the site construction. The structure is an unifamilial building, located on the northern urban area limit of Tavira city, in the Algarve, Portugal.