Investigation of blast-induced ground vibration effects on rural buildings

In this paper, blast-induced vibration effects on buildings located in rural areas were investigated. Damages to reinforced concrete, adobe and masonry buildings were evaluated in Catakkopru and Susuz villages in Silvan district of Diyarbakir, Turkey. Blasting of stiff rocks to construct highway at vicinity of the villages damaged the buildings seriously. The most important reason of the damages is lack of engineering services and improper constructed buildings according to the current building design codes. Also, it is determined that, inappropriate blast method and soft soil class increased the damages to the buildings. The study focuses on four points: Blast effect on buildings, soil conditions in villages, building damages and evaluation of damage reasons according to the current Turkish Earthquake Code (TEC).