Ground vibrations induced by pile driving Some results of experimental investigations

With regard to the complex character of ground vibrations it is difficult to determinate theoretically the vibration parameters for determined soil conditions. The description of that phenomenon requires, thus, experimental investigations. The problem of investigations of ground vibrations excited by pile driving and their propagation had been discussed in relatively few publikations (Baba 1957, Dvorák 1968 , Frydenlund 1970 , Zyazov et al. 1976 ). Writers are recently engaged in experimental research on propagation and transmission of vibrations induced by Franki and vibro-L pile driving. Some results of these research were published previously ( Ciesielski et al. 1977a , 1977b ). This Contributation concerns investigations of parameters of ground vibrations in dependence on the height of the hammer drop. Knowledge of these parameters is important during pile driving in the immediate vicinity of the buildings. Then it is possible to use a limited height of the hammer drop. This investigations were carried out mainly by use of seismographs VEGIK’s and S5S. The empirical formula, based on research results is given to estimate the maximum amplitudes of vibration displacements for any height of the hammer drop (range 0-10 m for Franki piles and 0-4 m for vibro-L) if the values of the amplitude for the definite height of the hammer drop is known.