International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144

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International Journal of
Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijrmms

Damage-vibration couple control of rock mass blasting for high rock slopes T
⁎
Ying-guo Hu , Mei-shan Liu, Xin-xia Wu, Gen Zhao, Peng Li
Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430072, China

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: This paper focuses on the damage-vibration couple control method which is appropriate for the blasting of high
High rock slope rock slopes. Firstly, the correlation characteristic between the blasting damage depth and the Peak Particle
Blasting Velocity (PPV) was investigated with regression analysis based on the site measurement of several famous high
Damage rock slopes in China. Results demonstrate that a power function relationship could be found and the correlation
Vibration
coefficient exceeds 80%. 3D Numerical simulation of blasting excavation was employed to verify the relation-
Couple
Control
ship, and results agree well with that of site experiment. Then, a new damage-vibration couple control approach
of high rock slopes was proposed by introducing an Equivalent Blasting Vibration Control Standard (EBVCS).
The mathematical description of EBVCS was determined with the stress attention law, and the rationale was
verified with the experimental and numerical data. Finally, the damage-vibration couple control approach was
implemented carefully during the excavation of Wudongde high rock slope, and the optimization suggestion was
put forward. Results demonstrate that the PPV in the radial direction is most suitable for the control approach.
The appropriate position of EBVCS established is at the inside of the berm. The detonation distance could affect
the correctness of damage-vibration couple approach significantly, and the ideal position is the nearest berm.

1. Introduction against experimental data, indicates a promising approach to reveal the

In mining and hydraulic operations, drilling blasting is probably the
most widely used and cost-effective excavation method.1–3 Detonation
of explosives generates a chemical reaction occurs very rapidly and a
relatively small quantity of explosive is converted into gas of very high
temperature.4–7 This procession results in two types of loadings applied
on the borehole wall, namely a stress wave and a gas pressure with
longer duration. Only a small fraction of the energy (less than 30%) is
used for the breakage and movement of the rock mass, while the re-
mainder of the energy is wasted in undesirable effects such as ground
vibrations, fly rock, air blast, lights, and back breaks.8–11
The capability of predicting and controlling blasting induced da-
mage in the remaining rock mass is important. For the last many years
considerable efforts were made to minimize damage resulting from rock
blasting.12–15 Site monitoring was conducted to study the damage and
vibration distribution of a rock mass under blasting. For example, S. S.
Rathore et al. investigated the controlled fracture growth by blasting
while protecting damages to remaining rock.16 Lu et al. investigated the
spatial distribution characteristics of blasting damage zone with
methods of sonic logging.17 However, investigation of rock blasting and
its effects by scaled or full size experiment is very expensive and time-
consuming. With the development of computer technology, numerical
method, derived from sound mechanical principles and validated
blasting induced damage (BID). In consequence, extensive research
activities in the field of blast damages have taken place in recent
years.18–23
It is known that the major part of the explosion energy is used in
crushing and breaking the rock in a properly designed blast. However,
some energy also causes ground vibration. The ground shock and vi-
bration can have an environmental impact on neighbors, and cause
structural damage to those structures such as buildings, bridges, dams,
tunnels, etc.24–27 Hence, more and more attention has been focused on
the spatial distribution and prediction of blasting vibration in rock
mass. The Peak particle velocity (PPV) has been accepted as an im-
portant indicator of structural or rock mass damage during blasting. Li
et al.21 investigate the relationship between PPV at 30 m away from the
charge hole and the damage of rock mass depth with numerical simu-
lation. Sheng et al.28 suggested the damage threshold values of PPV for
the granite of the Three Gorges Project. It is known that the better
understanding of blasting vibration has a great importance in the
minimization of the environmental complaints.
In recent years, the strictly requirement of blasting not only contains
separate aspect of damage or vibration, and it has evolved into full
control of the blasting response. For example, during the excavation of
several large hydropower stations which has been built in China, the
blasting induced damage and vibration in the remaining rock mass

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: yghu@whu.edu.cn (Y.-g. Hu).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.01.028
Received 22 June 2017; Received in revised form 6 December 2017; Accepted 15 January 2018
Available online 03 February 2018
1365-1609/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Y.-g. Hu et al. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144

Table 1 PPV = 11.277(dh)1.432 (2)

Blasting requirement of several famous high rock slope in south west of China.
where PPV is the Peak Particle Velocity at the upper bench, dh is da-
Order Name Slope Angle (°) Excavation Damage PPV at mage depth at the current bench. It can be seen that the damage depth
height height(m) depth last and PPV are not divided, and if one of them is determined, the other
(m) (m) bench
may be predicted with a power function relationship. If the damage
(cm/s)
depth was limited within 1 m, the PPV at the berm of last bench should
1 Xiaowan 700–800 47 670 1.2 12 limited within 10.18 cm/s and 11.28 cm/s for two high rock slopes
2 JinpingⅠ > 1000 > 55 530 1.2 12 respectively. To reveal the mechanism of this relationship, the at-
3 Da gangshang > 600 > 40 380–410 1.5 15
tending process of blasting wave in the rock mass should be taken in
4 Xiluodu 300–350 > 60 300–350 1–1.2 10
5 Tianshenqiao 400 50 350 1.5 15 consideration. Fig. 3 plots the schematic diagram of the longitudinal
6 Xiangjiaba 350 > 50 200 1.2 12 wave velocity, PPV and stress wave attenuation during blasting.
7 Baihetan 440–860 > 42 280 1 10 Recent studies have revealed that the damage will be subsequently
8 Nuozhadu 800 > 43 400–600 1.2 12 produced if the stress wave exceeds the material strength. But due to
further attenuation of the stress wave, only the blasting vibration could
be induced in the far field. As the damage scope could be determined
around the slope contour face were all limited strictly to protect the
with the value of stress wave at the point A, while the blasting vibration
safety of slope. Table 1 plots the blasting control requirement of several
at the point B is also quite related to the stress. So, the attenuation law
famous high rock slopes in south west of China. It should be pointed out
of blasting stress wave between the A and B could be seen as the link of
that the existed literatures mainly focus on the control of separate da-
the damage depth and vibration.
mage or vibration, but few attentions have been paid to the couple
control of them. The relationship between damage depth and PPV of
high rock slope is always ignored. 2.2. Validation of the relationship between damage depth and PPV by
This paper focuses on the damage-vibration couple control which is numerical simulation
appropriate for the blasting of high rock slope. The relationship be-
tween the blasting induced damage depth and PPV was investigated In our previous study, we proposed a tensile-compressive damage
with measurement regression analysis and numerical simulation. Then model by incorporating the compressive damage into the exited da-
a new damage-vibration couple control approach of high rock slope was mage model.23 The feasibility of the model is verified by comparing
proposed by introducing an Equivalent Blasting Vibration Control with four different existed blasting damage models. The tensile damage
Standard (EBVCS). At last, the damage-vibration couple control ap- scalar Dt is related to the damaged Poisson's ratio and the crack density
proach was implemented during the excavation of Wudongde high rock parameter Cd through
slope, and the optimization suggestion was put forward. It is expected 16 (1 − μ 2 )
Dt = Cd
that this study could provide a good reference for the damage and vi- 9 (1 − 2μ ) (3)
bration control of rock blasting excavation.
On the other hand, when the rock material is in compression, based
on the coupling principle of strain-rate effect in the Furlong-Davis-Alme
2. The investigation of relationship between damage depth and (RDA) model, the compressive damage Dc is expressed as.29,30:
PPV
λẆ p
Dċ =
In the past ten years, several important high rock slopes have been 1 − Dt (4)
built southwest China. Xiluodu and Baihetan high rock slope are two
The constitutive relations recording the damage effect could be
famous examples. To protect the security of slope during the blasting
definited with Hooke's law of increment as follow:
excavation, the sonic wave test and blasting vibration measurement
were implemented to understand the blasting response fully. Fig. 1 dσij = K dεkk δij + 2Gdeij (5)
shows the schematic diagram of blasting response measurement of
where εkk and eij are the volumetric and deviatoric strains respectively,
these slopes. The sonic wave test holes which are perpendicular to the
while δij is the Kronecker delta function.
presplit face exceed the remaining rock mass by 8 m. The measurement
The blasting of EL.750 berm of Baihetan high rock slope was se-
points of blasting vibration were fixed at the inside of berm at the upper
lected as the numerical simulation target. The blasting process was si-
bench. With above test, the damage depth at the current bench and PPV
mulated in a 3D FE model using LS-DYNA. Fig. 4 shows the developed
at the upper bench could be determined severally. It is no doubt that the
numerical model to study the blast response in rock media. The model
site testing provides a good condition for studying the connection be-
size was set to be 30 m long, 50 m wide and 60 m high. 300,863 ele-
tween the damage depth and PPV.
ments and 118,715 nodes were used in the numerical simulation. The
source of explosive is represented by a detonating cord containing a
2.1. Regression relationship between damage depth and PPV of several core load of emulsion explosive. Non-reflecting boundaries are applied
famous slopes to the other surfaces, except the top surface which has the free
boundary condition.
It is difficult to get precise theoretical solution because of the Material Type 9 of LS-DYNA (*MAT_NULL) is used to calculate the
blasting process is too complex. The regression analysis derived from pressure P from a specified EOS, which defines the relationship between
the experimental data, indicates a promising approach to study this pressure, density and internal energy. As for the air, the polynomial
problem. Fig. 2 shows the regression results of relationship between the EOS is usually employed, in which the pressure P is expressed as:
damage depth and PPV for Baihetan and Xiluodu high rock slope.
P = C0 + C1μ + C2 μ2 + C3 μ3 + (C4 + C5 μ + C6 μ2)e (6)
By using the linear, logarithmic, exponential and power function to
describe the curves, results indicate that the correlation coefficient of where e is the internal energy per volume. The compression of the
power function is the largest, which could exceed 0.85. The regression material is defined by the parameter μ = (ρ/ρ0)−1, with ρ and ρ0 being
formulas are shown as follows: the current and initial density of the material, respectively. As a matter
of fact, the air is often modeled as an ideal gas by setting C0 = C1 = C2
PPV = 10.169(dh)1.396 (1)
= C3 = C4 = 0 and C4 = C5 = 0.401. Air mass density and initial

138
Y.-g. Hu et al.
Fig. 2. Relationship between the damage depth and PPV for Baihetan and Xiluodu high
rock slope.
Fig. 3. Schematic diagram of conventional attending law of blasting stress wave.
internal energy e0 are 1.255 kg/m3 and 0.25 J/cm3, respectively.
In actual conditions, the rock mass is anisotropic and in-
homogeneous. Because of the numerous numbers of discontinuities in a
rock mass in terms of the cracks and joints, their properties such as
positions, orientations, strength and stiffness, etc., are impossible to be
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International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144
Fig. 1. Design of blasting response measurement of Xiluodu and
Baihetan high rock slope.
Fig. 4. Numerical model to study the blast response in rock media.
known exactly. In practice, many researchers used the equivalent rock
material properties in theoretical and numerical studies of rock mass
responses to either static or dynamic loads. So in the present study, the
equivalent rock material properties were employed. Assuming to be
isotropic and homogenous material, the damage constants used in the
tensile-compress damage model for the rock mass of basalt are listed in
Table 2. The described numerical tool developed in the present study
was used to simulate the spatial distribution of blasting damage and
vibration. The blasting damage zone contour and vibration waveform
were comprised with measurement and simulation as shown in Fig. 5.
It can be seen that the damage contour of numerical simulation
match well with that of measurement. The damage depth of measure-
ment is about 0.82 m, while that of numerical simulation is 0.78 m,
which reveals that the error is within 5%. The waveform of blasting
vibration for measurement and simulation are also quite similar, and
the difference is within 10%. Comparison results reveal that the nu-
merical simulation approach adopted in the present study could be used
to reproduce the dynamic response of slope blasting well. By entering
different blasting parameters, then more diverse combination of da-
mage depth and PPV could be obtained. Fig. 6 plots regression of re-
lationship between the damage depth and PPV in the numerical simu-
lation, while the site experiment was also used as the comparison.
Results demonstrate that a high correlation relationship of power
function could also be found between the damage depth and PPV in
numerical simulation. The correlation coefficient of numerical simula-
tion is larger than that of site experiment, which means the correlation
characteristic between the damage depth and PPV is stronger in
Y.-g. Hu et al. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144

Table 2
Material constants and damage constants for modified damage model.

Density (kg/m3) Elasticity modulus Poisson's ratio Dynamic tensile strength Damage constants Damage constants KIC /MN*m−3/2 Damage constants λ Kg/
(GPa) (MPa) k m J

2600 30 0.22 2 2.33*1024 7 0.93 0.0001

numerical simulation. The effect of randomness and uncertainty may

results in the difference between site experiments and numerical si-
mulation. But combining the regression results of the site experiments
and numerical simulation, it can be concluded that the damage depth
and PPV are not separate variables, and they are highly correlated with
a power function relationship. One of them could be predicted if the
other is determined. So in the next section, a new damage-vibration
couple control approach would be proposed based on the relationship
of damage depth and PPV.

3. The damage-vibration couple control approach of high rock

slope
Fig. 6. Regression of relationship between the damage depth and PPV of numerical si-
3.1. The procedure of damage-vibration couple approach mulation.

The damage-vibration couple control is actually controlling the

damage depth by limiting the PPV at the certain detonation distance.
The key of this approach is establishing the relationship between the
PPV at point B and the damage depth at the point A (Fig. 3). At the
contour of the damage zone, the PPV could be seen as the Blasting
Vibration Control Standard (BVCS) for the damage threshold value of
rock mass, but the blasting vibration tester could not fixed at this po-
sition because of strong blasting slung shot and air shock wave. So the
equipment was arranged at the point B to understand the degree of
blasting disturbance. During this procession, the Equivalent Blasting
Vibration Control Standard (EBVCS) should be introduced. The detailed
procedure of damage-vibration couple approach could be illustrated
with Fig. 7.
The first step is determining the relationship between the damage
depth and PPV. Sonic wave test and blasting vibration measurement
could be implemented to make the regression of the damage depth and
PPV. In order to make the results more comprehensive and credible,
numerical simulation could be employed to increase the regression
data. Then the corresponding PPV at the last bench could be de-
termined when the damage depth at the current bench reaches the Fig. 7. Procedure of damage-vibration couple approach.
maximum allowed value, and it could be defined as the Equivalent
Blasting Vibration Control Standard (EBVCS) in the present study. The
third step is the PPV at the upper bench was limited under the EBVCS
during blasting, and it can be predicted that the damage depth of the
current bench could be controlled within the threshold value. The

Fig. 5. Comparison of the damage and blasting vi-

bration with measurement and simulation.

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Y.-g. Hu et al. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144

Table 3
Parameters based on the excavation of Baihetan high rock slope used in the theoretical calculation.

Dynamic tensile strength (MPa) longitudinal wave velocity (m/s) Poisson's ratio Attenuation Constantsα Attenuation Constants β Density (kg/m3) Height of bench (m)

2 5000 0.22 1.72 0.26 2600 10

Fig. 8. Comparison of theoretical, numerical and experimental results.
above procedures make up the basis of damage-vibration couple control
approach of high rock slope.
3.2. The mathematical description of Equivalent Blasting Vibration Control
Standard
As illustrated in the above section, the determination of EBVCS is
the key for the damage-vibration couple control approach. The EBVCS
could be determined with a lot of site experiments by implementing the
regression of the damage depth at the current bench and PPV at the
upper bench, but it is time-confusing and expensive. So the investiga-
tion of the mathematical description of the EBVCS based on the theo-
retical analysis is necessary. According to the exist literature, the at-
tenuation law of the stress wave generated by blasting could be
described as follow.31
r 10.6 cm/s and 10.1 cm/s respectively. The error is within 10%, which
P = P0 ( 0 )α
r (7)
where P is the stress wave at the detonation distance of r , and P0 is the
stress wave around the blast hole. r0 is the radius of the blast hole and α
is the attenuation index of stress wave in the rock mass.
The determination of the attenuation index should be divided into
two conditions according to the existed literatures.23,24
μ
The shock wave: α=2+
1−μ
μ
The stress wave: α=2−
1−μ
where μ is the Poisson's ratio. Based on the elastic assumptions, the
velocity could be given by
σi
Vi =
ρCP
where σi is the stress at one direction, Vi is the PPV at the corresponding
direction, ρ is the rock density, and CP is the longitudinal wave velocity
of rock mass.
As shown in Fig. 3, if the maximum allowed damage depth is dA , the
PPV of damage threshold of rock mass is VA , then the PPV at the point B
is the EBVCS. It could be expressed as follow:
dA α
EBVCS = VA ( ) relationship between damage depth and PPV at the upper bench was
r (11)
It is known that the PPV enlarges with the increase of the elevation
of high slope. Many researchers went deep into investigating the ele-
vation amplification of PPV.31 But there is no unified understanding for
the elevation amplification effect of blasting vibration. In the present
study, to consider the elevation amplification, the following formula
was used:
VA H β α
EBVCS = dc
rα (12)
The coefficient β is related to the elevation, which could be de-
termined according to the measured data. Another formula could also
be used make a rough estimate of VA as follow:
σc
VA =
ρCp (13)
Combining the Eq. (12) and Eq. (13), the description of EBVCS
could be determined as follow:
σc H β α
EBVCS = dc
ρCp r α (14)
It can be seen that the EBVCS at the last bench of high rock slope
depends on the rock mass quality, detonation distance and the allowed
damage depth. It should be pointed out that the mathematical de-
scription is based on a lot of simplifying assumptions, so it is necessary
to use the experiment and numerical results to verify the theoretical
results during the engineering practice. The parameters based on the
excavation of Baihetan high rock slope used in the theoretical calcu-
lation were shown in Table 3. The comparison of theoretical, numerical
and experimental results was plotted in Fig. 8.
Results demonstrate that the theoretical, numerical and experi-
mental results match well with each other. If the maximum allowed
damage depth is 1 m, the EBVCS of three methods are 9.7 cm/s,
reveals that the mathematical description of EBVCS could be used in the
damage-vibration couple control.
4. The application and optimizing of the damage-vibration couple
approach
4.1. Engineering background
(8) To verify the rationality and validity of damage-vibration couple
control approach, it was implemented carefully during the blasting
excavation of Wudongde high rock slope. Wudongde hydropower sta-
(9) tion is one of the largest and most important projects in the southwest
of China, whose installed capacity exceeds 10.2 million kilowatts. The
natural slope angles of left bank range from 50° to 75°, while at the right
bank that are between 60° and 75°. The lithology of the dam foundation
is the limestone. The rock mass of is mainly micro-new rock mass,
(10)
which is only partially eroded by the structural mask. Joints do not
develop and the spacing is generally 3–4 m. Berms are set to make the
traffic and construction convenient every 10–15 m. The protective layer
of 5–8 m width was set in order to protect the remained rock mass of the
permanent slope. The contour holes, buffer holes and production holes
were designed, while the hole diameter is 90 mm. The detailed blasting
design for Wudong de high rock slope was illustrated in Fig. 9(a).
During the blasting excavation, the experiment of investigating the
designed. Three holes were drilled into the rock body over 8 m and the
space between two holes is 1.0 m. Three groups of single-hole and cross-

141
Y.-g. Hu et al.
hole test were implemented to determine the blasting damage depth.
The blasting vibration equipment was fixed both at the inside and
outside of the berm of adjacent four steps. It should be pointed out only
one vibration point is enough for one bench in conventional case, but
the position of vibration measurement points is a worth discussing
question because of the special geometry shape of the berm. Fig. 9(b)
shows the arrangement for the sonic wave test and blasting vibration
measurement.
4.2. Sensitivity analysis of PPV at different directions
The damage-vibration couple control is using the PPV at the upper
bench to limit the damage depth at the current bench. But it should be
pointed out that three kinds of PPV such as the radius, tangential and
vertical direction could be obtained during the measurement. So an
important question is that which is the most appropriate for the da-
mage-vibration couple control approach. A total of 100 times of the
blasting vibration monitoring data was selected to investigate this
question. The selected points were all arranged at the inside of the berm
to avoid the other distractions. Fig. 10 plots regression results between
damage depth and PPV at different direction.
It can be thought that the most optimal PPV used in the damage-
vibration couple control should be the one which could forecast the
damage depth most accurately. Usually the correlation coefficient
squared (R2) and absolute error could be used to describe the correla-
tion relationship between two parameters. Results demonstrate that the
correlation coefficient squared of the radial PPV and damage depth is as
large as 0.91, and the absolute error is 2.14 cm/s. But for the PPV in the
tangential direction, the R2 is 0.8 and the absolute error is 3.5 cm/s. In
the vertical direction, two indicators are 0.64 and 5.4 cm/s. Results
reveal that the PPV of radial direction is most suitable for the damage-
vibration couple control approach.
Fig. 10. Regression results between damage depth and PPV at different direction.
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International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144
Fig. 9. Detailed blasting design and arrangement for
the measurement points.
Fig. 11. Comparison of control effect by using the PPV at different direction.
To verify this conclusion, the statistics of measured blasting damage
depth and PPV were implemented. The ideal effect of damage-vibration
couple control approach is that when the PPV is larger than the EBVCS,
the corresponding damage depth exceeds the threshold value. Fig. 11
plots comparison of control effect by using the PPV at different direc-
tion. The allowed damage depth of the foundation face for Wudongde
high rock slope is 1 m, and the EBVCS was determined as 10 cm/s based
on site experiment data.
It can be seen that when the radial PPV is larger than 10 cm/s, al-
most all the corresponding damage depth at the current bench exceeds
standard line. The correction rate of the damage-vibration control with
the radial PPV is nearly 100%. But for the vertical and tangential di-
rection, the prediction accurate decrease sharply. The correction rates
of vertical and tangential direction are respectively 34% and 67%.
Results demonstrate that the damage-vibration couple control approach
should take the direction of PPV into direction, and the radial PPV is
most suitable.
4.3. Sensitivity analysis of PPV at different position
Usually the width of the berm is 3 m, the measurement points of
blasting vibration could be fixed at the inside or outside during en-
gineering practice. Existed literatures reveal that the vibration ampli-
fication could be found obviously around the berm. So, another im-
portant problem is: what is the most favorable position for the damage-
couple control? Fig. 12 plots the relationship of PPV and damage while
the test points were fixed at the inside and outside of the berm re-
spectively.
It can be seen that the correlation coefficients of the damage and
PPV at the inside is larger than that of outside, which means the PPV at
the inside is more suitable for the damage-vibration control. But it
Y.-g. Hu et al.
Fig. 12. Comparison of control effect when the EBVCS was determined by data of inside
and outside of the berm.
should be pointed out that the correlation coefficients exceed 0.8 for
both inside and outside. As the position of measurement points is al-
ways ignored by tester, two kinds of mistakes may happen in practice as
follow: the first is that the EBVCS was established based on the
Fig. 13. Regression of the damage depth and PPV at different elevation.
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International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144
correlation relationship at the inside of the berm, but the measurement
point was fixed at the outside during the implementing practice. The
second is the EBVCS was established based on the correlation re-
lationship at the outside, but the measurement point was fixed at the
inside of the berm during the implementing practice. Fig. 12 also plots
the comparison of control effect for two combinations.
Four kinds of zone could be found in the coordinate system. If the
measurement results are located in the ‘Ⅰ’ and ‘Ⅲ’ zone, that means
using the PPV to predict damage depth is reasonable. If the results are
found in the zone Ⅱ, that reveals the vibration is litter than the EBVCS,
but the actual damage depth is larger than the threshold value, this
would guides the wrong and dangerous judgment. If the results are
found in the ‘Ⅳ’ zone, that means the vibration exceeds the BVCS, but
the real damage depth is litter than the threshold value, it reveals that
the BVCS is too strict for the blasting control.
It can be seen that when the EBVCS is determined by data at the
outside of the berm, it is dangerous to employ damage-vibration couple
control approach with the data measured at the inside of berm because
many points are found in ‘Ⅱ’ zone. But the data measured at the outside
of berm could be adopted at this condition. When the EBVCS is de-
termined by data at the inside of the berm, the data measured at both
the inside and outside could be used in the damage-vibration couple
control approach. But at this situation, the result of outside is too safety
for blasting excavation control. It can be concluded that the EBVCS
should be determined with the measured data obtained from the inside
of the berm to protect the safety of the slope during blasting.
4.4. Sensitivity analysis of PPV at different detonation distance
As mentioned in the previous section, the damage-vibration couple
approach was proposed based on the relationship between the PPV at
the upper bench and damage depth in the current bench. The stress
wave attenuation is the basis during this process. It is known that the
blasting stress wave decreases sharply with detonation distance, so the
Y.-g. Hu et al.
accuracy of damage-vibration couple control approach in the far field is
a question worth verifying. In the present study, an experiment was
designed to investigate the control effect if the PPV was obtained at
different elevation berm of high rock slope. Fig. 13 plots the experiment
results at different detonation distance. It should be pointed out that the
PPV at the inside of the berm was selected in this regression.
It can be seen that the correlation coefficient decreases sharply with
the detonation distance. At the second bench, the correlation coefficient
is 0.85, while at the fifth bench that is 0.64. The comparison results
reveal that the detonation distance should be paid sufficient attention
during the use of damage-vibration couple control approach. The litter
the detonation distance is, the higher accuracy of the prediction could
be found. So during the engineering practice of high rock slope ex-
cavation, the PPV at the nearest bench is more applicable during the
damage-vibration couple control approach.
5. Conclusions and discussions
In the present study, the damage-vibration couple control approach
for high rock slope was investigated carefully with theoretical, nu-
merical and experimental methods. The following conclusions and
understandings could be drawn from the study:
Based on the experiment data of several famous high rock slopes,
the regression relationship of damage depth in the current bench and
PPV at upper bench was established, results demonstrate that re-
lationship of power function could be found and the correlation coef-
ficient exceeds 0.8. To verify the mechanism of relationship between
the damage depth and PPV, numerical simulation was implemented t
and the results agree well with the site experiment.
The damage and vibration couple control approach of high rock
slope were proposed by introducing an equivalent damage blasting
vibration control standard. The mathematical description of equivalent
blasting vibration control standard was determined. Comparison of
theoretical, numerical and experimental results demonstrates that the
mathematical description of EBVCS is reasonable.
The damage-vibration couple control approach was implemented
carefully during the excavation of Wudongde high rock slope. Results
demonstrate that the radial direction is more suitable for the vibration-
damage control approach. The EBVCS should be determined with the
measured data obtained from the inside of the berm to protect the
safety of the slope. Correlation degree of relationship between the da-
mage and PPV decreased obviously as the detonation distance increase.
The most appropriate position of vibration points is the nearest bench.
It should be pointed out that this paper focus on the determination
of BVCS and application of vibration-damage control approach for high
rock slope. The anisotropic and inhomogeneous of the rock mass in
reality are ignored. Otherwise, the damage-vibration control approach
proposed in the present study still provide a good reference for the
blasting control of high rock slope excavation.
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by Chinese National Natural Science
Foundation (5109017) and the Hubei Province Natural Science
Foundation of China (2016CFB605). The authors wish to express their
thanks to all supporters.
144
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 103 (2018) 137–144
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