Effect of charge weight on vibration levels for millisecond elayed quarry blasts, Earthquake Notes 34

ABSTRACT- Vibration levels at ground surface were recorded in the dis-tance range of 150 to 3000 feet from 27 different millisecond delayed quarry blasts. The maximum weight of charge detonated per delay interval was accurately known and ranged from 30 to 4600 pounds. Statistical analysis of these data show that the square root of the charge weight per delay interval can be used as a scaling factor in propagation eauations. Thus, the equation for peak particle velocity, v, at any distance, D, is: v = H ( D/W 2).43 where H and are constants for each quarry site. The effect of distance and charge weight on the vibration levels produced in the ground is basic to all quarry vibration studies. Meny types of propaga-tion equations for predicting the amplitude of vibration at any distance for any size of charge have been proposed. The most common one in use has the form: A = kWbD-g, (1