ABSTRACT
One undesirable side effect of blasting operations is the generation of air blasts. Although the air blast seldom causes structural damage, the sudden great noise may perturb neighbors and raise complaints. Proper blast design, covering, and monitoring of air blast and ground vibration amplitudes together with objective information given to neighbors about the blasting operation will reduce complaints and make the overall operation more efficient. When an explosive charge detonates in air, the rapidly expanding gaseous reaction products compress the surrounding air and move it outwards with a high velocity, initially equal to the detonation velocity. The blast effect on buildings and other structures depends on the amplitude and duration of the air pressure pulse as it arrives at the target. The nearest airport is usually able to give information on the local atmospheric conditions, although short-duration and short-range variations in atmospheric conditions make these unreliable.
