Wave Patterns in the Ground: Case Studies Related to Vibratory Sheet Pile Driving

Abstract

Vibrations due to pile and sheet pile driving are known to cause discomfort for people, as well as damage to nearby buildings and structures. To enable prediction of ground vibration levels it is important to acknowledge the wave patterns induced in the ground to correctly determine which attenuation model to adopt. This paper presents wave patterns in the ground due to vibratory sheet pile driving based on field measurements from three case studies. The results show different wave patterns in the ground. At the ground surface the wave patterns are elliptical, resembling Rayleigh waves. At depth in the soil the wave patterns are instead strongly polarized in different directions, indicating the presence of P- and S-waves. Moreover, wave patterns tend to become more irregular with increasing distance from the source. This paper contributes to an improved understanding of wave patterns in the ground during vibratory sheet pile driving, forming a platform for the development of a reliable prediction model.