Evaluation of influence of vibrations generated by blasting construction on an existing tunnel in soft soils

• We quantitatively evaluate the effect of blasting vibrations on an existing tunnel.
• We evaluate critical issues on controlled blasting scheme and its implementation.
• We discuss safety criterion of blasting vibrations for the tunnel via field test.
• A 3D numerical model is presented for tunnel vibration and verified by test data.
• The blasting construction scheme should be implemented carefully in soft soils.

The controlled blasting technique is employed, for the first time, on the diaphragm wall of an existing road tunnel in soft soils in the city of Shanghai, and therefore, safety demands on evaluation of influence of the blasting vibrations on the tunnel are highly required. Based on the practical blasting scheme of four sections of diaphragm wall of the tunnel to be exploded in three groups, the field monitoring of blasting vibrations is carried out on the bottom plate of the tunnel and the blasting vibration effects on the tunnel are measured throughout the blasting construction. The sequential characteristics of vibration velocities and accelerations of the tunnel structure are obtained from the field blasting tests. In order to fully understand the safety criterion of the blasting vibrations on the tunnel, a 3D numerical model is established by the finite element software ABAQUS. The numerical simulation results are confirmed by field monitoring data. Based on the monitoring data and numerical results of the tunnel subjected to blasting loads, results show: (1) the blasting energy is transferred mainly along the vertical direction; (2) the basic frequency domain of the tunnel responses caused by the explosion is relatively in a lower frequency range; (3) distinct vibration response spectra of the tunnel structure are observed along the horizontal and vertical directions; (4) the performance of the tunnel subjected to the blasting construction is in a critical state of safety and thus the blasting construction scheme should be implemented carefully. Finally, critical issues on evaluation of the blasting construction are fully discussed and evaluated, which provide a reference for other similar projects.