Finite element analysis of vibrations induced by propagating waves generated by tunnel blasting

Abstract

The excavation of underground tunnels close to existing substructures or the ground surface presents problems especially when blasting is being carried out. The high intensity waves which are generated and propagated through the rock medium, due to the detonation of explosives, may still have large amplitudes when they reach the ground surface. In order to study the vibration effects due to these propagating waves associated with blasting, a finite element simulation of tunnel blasting has been carried out in this paper. An example of a new tunnel excavated below an existing tunnel has been studied. Even though this problem is three dimensional in nature, due to the large computational efforts involved in three dimensional dynamic analysis, a two dimensional finite element analysis has been adopted. A pseudo-plane strain concept has been used since it has been found that the results obtained using such an approach are more realistic than the conventional plane strain analysis. It is concluded that results from such a numerical analysis could compliment the field investigations to produce guidelines for safe and controlled blasting. © 1988 Springer-Verlag.