Stress Response and Damage Characteristics of Local Members of a Structure due to Tunnel Blasting Vibrations Based on the High-Order Local Modal Analysis

Damage characteristics and dynamic stress response of aging masonry structures for blast-induced ground motion were performed using high-order local modal analysis method. A complete investigation of damage types and locations of aging masonry buildings due to tunnel blasting vibration were performed by on-site survey. A typical 2-storey aging masonry building located above a tunnel was selected for dynamic response analysis. The experimental dynamic characteristics of the structure were determined by using the operational modal analysis (OMA) method. Finite element models for the masonry structures were updated by modifying material parameters based on OMA results. The first five natural frequencies of the updated finite element models ranged from 8.80–24.99 Hz, and the first five modes were global modes. The sixth to twentieth natural frequencies ranged from 26.10–36.34 Hz, and the sixth to twentieth modes were local modes whose deformation was greater than the global deformation. Since the principal frequencies of the tunnel blast vibration were mostly higher than the natural global modes’ frequencies and were much closer to the natural frequencies of local members, local members experienced more intensive vibrations compared to the main body structure. The principal compressive stress (PCS) and principal tensile stress (PTS) of local members were several times greater than that of the main body structure. Therefore, local members of the masonry building suffered most from the tunnel blasting vibration. Corners due to stress concentration, the contact area between brick and concrete, local members, and precast floor seams are prone to damage during tunnel blasting. With the vibration velocity increasing, the PCS and PTS of local members gradually increase. But, the PTS ratio of local members decreases with the increase of peak particle velocities. The dynamic response analysis result and the damage locations using high-order local modal analysis method are in accordance with the damage found at the site.

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