Blast Densification Specifications

Submitted by v.schaefer on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59
Summary of Example Specifications

<p><p><h2>Summary of Example Specifications</h2></p><p><div class="grayed-title subsection"><strong>Specification Name/Number:</strong> Washington State Bridge Foundation</div><strong>Reference(s):<br></strong><em>Kimmerling (1994)</em></p><p>The Washington State DOT specification is clear and logically ordered. This document has been classified as a method approach specification, but allows for a shared risk allocation between the owner and contractor as certain methods and materials to complete the blasting may be selected by the contractor. Overly complicated construction methods are not required. Material estimates and work items are given in the specification, allowing for contractors with the necessary experience to bid on the project. Thorough QC/QA procedures are included in this specification.</p><p><div class="grayed-title subsection"><strong>Specification Name/Number:</strong> Kennecott Tailings Test program</div><strong>Reference(s):<br></strong><em>Provided by URS – Project #22241453 – Kennecott Tailings Expansion Prefeasibility Foundation Improvement Test – Issued February 12, 2010</em></p><p>The Kennecott Tailings specification is clear and logically ordered. The document is a method specification that gives the required number of blast-holes and their locations. The contractor is free to determine the best equipment to install the charges, allowing for a shared risk allocation with the owner. Measurement and payment amounts are clearly stated. No overly complicated construction methods are required and exact locations and charge amounts are to be given by the Owner’s engineer and surveyor. This allows for contractors with the necessary experience to fairly and easily bid on the project. This specification does not include a QC/QA section.</p><p><div class="grayed-title subsection"><strong>Specification Name/Number:</strong> Seymour Falls Dam</div><strong>Reference(s):<br></strong><em>Greater Vancouver Water District – Seymour Falls Dam – MCE Upgrade Project – Issued February 14, 2003</em></p><p>The Seymour Falls Dam specification is clear and logically ordered. The document is a method specification, giving the required charge weights, depths, and locations while allowing the contractor to determine the best equipment to install the charges. No overly complex methods are required. This specification allows for fair and easy bidding by contractors with the necessary experience. A minimal amount of QC/QA methods are included.<br></p></p>

Cone Penetration Test

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><strong>Reference(s):</strong></p><p><em>Ashford et al. (2004)<br>Fordham and Purcell (1991)<br>Ghandi et al. (1999)<br>Gohl et al. (2000)<br>Narin van Court and Mitchell (1994a, 1994b, 1995b)<br>Narsilio et al.

Field Study, South Carolina

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><figure id='attachment_3346' style='max-width:736px' class='caption aligncenter'><img class="wp-image-3346 size-full" src="https://www.geoinstitute.org/sites/default/files/geotech-tools-uploads/…; alt="Diagrams of explosive placed in borings and the detonating cord and of the measuring system used to measure settlement after the explosion." width="736" height="537" /><figcaption cla

Highway 504 Bridge, Mt. St. Helens, Washington

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><div><img class="wp-image-3348 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.geoinstitute.org/sites/default/files/geotech-tools-uploads/…; alt="Photograph of the Highway 504 bridge over Coldwater Creek in Washington state after potentially liquefiable soils were improved through blast densification." width="500" height="332" /></div><div><h2>Project Summary/Scope:</h2>The proposed bridge along Sta

National Geotechnical Experimentation Site, California

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><figure id='attachment_3343' style='max-width:965px' class='caption aligncenter'><img class="wp-image-3343 size-full" src="https://www.geoinstitute.org/sites/default/files/geotech-tools-uploads/…; alt="Diagram of layout of blast holes for a liquefaction study at the National Geotechnical Experimentation Site" width="965" height="542" /><figcaption class='caption-text'>

Settlement Measurement

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><strong>Reference(s):</strong></p><p><em>Ashford et al. (2004)<br>Fordham and Purcell (1991)<br>Ghandi et al. (1999)<br>Gohl et al. (2000)<br>Narin van Court and Mitchell (1994a, 1994b)<br>Narsilio et al. (2009)<br>Solymar (1984)</em></p><p><strong>Method Summary</strong></p><p>Settlement can be measured almost immediately after blasting.

Shear Wave Velocity Measurements

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><strong>Reference(s):</strong></p><p><em>Fordham and Purcell (1991)<br>Ghandi et al. (1999)</em></p><p><strong>Method Summary</strong></p><p>Shear wave velocity can be measured by generating an impulse at the surface and measuring the shear wave velocity in an adjacent borehole (downhole measurements) or by generating an impulse in one borehole and measuring the shear wave velocity with a receiver in another borehole (cross-hole measurements).

Standard Penetration Test

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><strong>Reference(s):</strong></p><p><em>Gohl et al. (2000)<br>Narin van Court and Mitchell (1994a)</em></p><p><strong>Method Summary</strong></p><p>Standard Penetration Tests (SPTs) should be performed before and after the test and production blasts to ensure that the specified ground improvement has occurred.

Vibration Monitoring

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><strong>Reference(s):</strong></p><p><em>Ashford et al. (2004)<br>Fordham and Purcell (1991)<br>Ghandi et al. (1999)<br>Gohl et al. (2000)<br>Narsilio et al. (2009)</em></p><p><strong>Method Summary</strong></p><p>Vibration monitoring is performed to ensure dynamic movements (i.e., maximum velocities) are maintained within tolerable limits to prevent damage to nearby structures.

Westover Airport North, Massachusetts

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/30/2018 - 19:59

<p><p><div><h2><strong>Project Summary/Scope:</strong></h2>A large, one story manufacturing facility (360,000 ft<sup>2</sup> footprint) was to be founded on alluvial deposits susceptible to liquefaction. Blast densification was used to densify the material.</p><p>Subsurface Conditions: Alluvial deposits extending as deep as 90 feet. The alluvial deposits consisted of very loose to loose, fine- to medium-grained sands with traces of silt and gravel.