Use of fuzzy set theory for minimizing overbreak in underground blasting operations——A case study of Alborz Tunnel,Iran

In order to increase the safety of working environment and decrease the unwanted costs related to overbreak in tunnel excavation projects, it is necessary to minimize overbreak percentage. Thus, based on regression analysis and fuzzy inference system, this paper tries to develop predictive models to estimate overbreak caused by blasting at the Alborz Tunnel. To develop the models, 202 datasets were utilized, out of which 182 were used for constructing the models. To validate and compare the obtained results,determination coefficient(R2) and root mean square error(RMSE) indexes were chosen. For the fuzzy model, R2 and RMSE are equal to 0.96 and 0.55 respectively, whereas for regression model, they are 0.41 and 1.75 respectively, proving that the fuzzy predictor performs, significantly, better than the statistical method. Using the developed fuzzy model, the percentage of overbreak was minimized in the Alborz Tunnel.

Evaluation of underground blast-induced ground motions through nearsurface low-velocity geological layers

Surface ground motion produced by underground blasts is significantly influenced by near-surface geological conditions.However,near-surface low-propagation velocity layers were always ignored in past analyses of ground motions due to their thin thickness.With the rising concern about surface ground motions produced by the ascendant scale and frequentness of underground excavation and mining,close attention is gradually paid to ground blast vibrations.Therefore,systemic experiments were conducted and took seven months in an underground mine to clarify the variation of motion from underground rock to surface ground.The attenuation of surface ground peak particle velocities(PPVs)is compared to that in underground rock,and horizontal amplitudes are compared to vertical amplitudes.Differences between bedrock and surface ground vibrations are analyzed to illustrate the site effect of near-surface lower-propagation velocity layers.One-dimensional site response analysis is employed to quantify the influence of different geological profiles on surface ground vibrations.The experimental data and site response analysis allowed the following conclusions:(1)geological site effects mainly produce decreasing dominant frequency(DF)of surface ground vibrations;(2)the site amplification effect of blast vibration needs to be characterized by peak particle displacement(PPD);(3)shear waves(S-waves)begin to dominate and surface Rayleigh waves(R-waves)develop as blast-induced ground vibrations travel upward through rock and lower-velocity layers to the surface.The comparison of response relative displacement to a critical value is best to assess the potential for cracking on surface structures.

Dynamic Responses Analysis of a Building Structure Subjected to Ground Shock from a Tunnel Explosion

Dynamic responses of a multi-storey building without or with a sliding base-isolation device for ground shock induced by an in-tunnel explosion are numerically analyzed. The effect of an adjacent tunnel in between the building and the explosion tunnel, which affects ground shock propagation , is considered in the analysis. Different modeling methods, such as the eight-node equal-parametric finite element and mass-lumped system, are used to establish the coupling model consisting of the two adjacent tunnels, the surrounding soil medium with the Lysmer viscous boundary condition, and the multi-storey building with or without the sliding base-isolation device. In numerical calculations , a continuous friction model, which is different from the traditional Coulomb friction model, is adopted to improve the computational efficiency and reduce the accumulated errors. Some example analyses are subsequently performed to study the response characteristics of the building and the sliding base-isolation device to ground shock. The effect of the adjacent tunnel in between the building and the explosion tunnel on the ground shock wave propagation is also investigated. The final conclusions based on the numerical results will provide some guidance in engineering practice.