Simplified Analysis Approach for Predicting Ground-Borne Vibrations Induced by Impact Driving of Concrete Piles

Abstract

As a common vibration source, impact pile driving can adversely affect the surrounding environment. Predicting ground-borne vibration intensities and evaluating vibration impact should typically be performed before the start of pile-driving work. However, existing prediction methods based on empirical formulas are often too crude for the reliable analysis of ground-borne vibrations because they cannot reflect the inherent features of dynamic pile–soil interaction or lack a rigorous analytical basis. Furthermore, prediction methods based on sophisticated finite-element modeling and field experiments are too time-consuming to meet practical engineering needs. Given this research gap, this study proposed an efficient and rigorous prediction approach for ground-borne vibrations induced by impact pile driving, wherein hammer-driven closed-end circular concrete piles penetrating into homogenous soil ground were investigated. A simplified pile-driving analysis was developed to compute ground-radiated energy at the pile–soil interface. Wave attenuation equations were applied to predict vibration intensity variation with distance by considering the propagation nature of various types of waves. Finite-element simulations and field measurements verified the accuracy of the proposed prediction approach.