Dynamic investigations of various civil engineering structures due to ambient and mining tremors

Abstract

The first part of the study deals with evaluation of dynamic characteristics of selected typical industrial facilities, such as the extraction steel tower, reinforced concrete tower skips. These structures are located in the coal mine area. The constructions of the test items are varied and complicated, which causes difficulties in the research in situ. In the investigation we used normal and emergency operation of lifting equipment, the effect of wind gusts and rhythmic man swaying. The second part of the study involves the determination of the dynamic characteristics of tailing dam. In this case mining tremors were used as the sources of vibration excitations. By using natural vibration excitation source it was possible to determine the lowest frequency of free vibration of the tailing dam. The third part of the paper focuses on the results of measurements of mine-induced ground vibrations and vibrations of residential buildings of various types. Typical one-family masonry houses as well as 5 and 12 storey reinforced prefabricated buildings were examined. The studies were conducted to determine the transmission of free-field vibrations to the building foundations. According to the significant differences between the simultaneously measured ground and building foundation vibrations, results of experimental tests obtained by means of response spectra are essential for the proper adoption of kinematic loads for dynamic models of these structures. The results of experimental studies were the basis for the verification of dynamic models of investigated structures.