Background

A state Department of Transportation undertook a transportation infrastructure project to improve a major corridor of Interstate through a major metropolitan area. Construction activities include the widening of the freeway and the construction of new overpasses.

Services Provided

Rimkus was retained to monitor construction induced vibrations with seismograph equipment to characterize construction vibrations as a function of peak particle velocities versus distance for various construction activities, most notably, pile driving. Based on the results of the monitoring activities, Rimkus investigated various pile alternatives to select piles with vibration characteristics that would be most suitable for use in areas with more vibration sensitive structures, as well as alternatives for reducing the effects of vibration on structures in close proximity to the pile driving activities.

Rimkus also investigated claims made by local residences and businesses related to damage, to determine the cause and origin of the reported damage, and, specifically, whether the damage was related to construction induced ground vibration based on the visual characteristics of the damage and the known construction vibrations as determined from the monitoring activities.