ABSTRACT
The limitations of energy-based vibration attenuation relationships are reviewed. The large scatter of reported results can be explained by the fact that such correlations do not take into account important dynamic pile and soil parameters. The propagation of driving energy from the hammer into the pile and from the pile to the soil along the shaft and at the base is discussed, using wave propagation theory. The importance of the impact velocity, the pile and soil impedance and of the distribution of the dynamic soil resistance are highlighted. The dynamic soil resistance, which depends on the strain-dependent impedance, is the source of ground vibrations. Guidance is given regarding the selection of soil impedance values, taking into account the strain-softening effect. Vibration propagation from the base and along the shaft can be calculated using analytical methods, which take into account the transfer of driving energy.
