Multifactor assessment of vibrational impact of construction and transport loads on buildings and structures with the development of threshold criteria for monitoring systems

Abstract

Vibrational impact caused by construction site activities and transport loads in conditions of dense urban development poses a significant threat to the integrity of buildings and structures, contributing to structural damage and reduced operational reliability. A comprehensive multifactor assessment of such impact that accounts for the simultaneous influence of multiple sources with differing frequency and temporal characteristics overcomes the limitations of existing regulatory approaches, which primarily consider isolated vibration sources and do not fully reflect interference effects or cumulative damage accumulation. Based on extensive in-situ measurements of vibration parameters on buildings of various structural types located in zones affected by construction works and transport corridors, using three-component seismic sensors, along with numerical modeling of wave propagation in the soil mass by the finite element method and statistical data processing employing multivariate regression analysis, principal component analysis, and wavelet transformation, regularities in the variation of peak vibration velocity have been identified depending on the type of technological operation, distance from the source, and geological conditions of the site. Construction impacts, characterized by impulsive behavior with a predominance of low-frequency components, demonstrate significant parameter variability amplified by soil heterogeneity, particularly water-saturated sandy interlayers. Transport vibrations, represented by quasi-stationary processes from railway, road, and rail transport, contribute to background loading, with their spectral composition substantially influencing the response of structures near their natural frequencies. Analysis of the combined action of the sources reveals amplification coefficients of total vibration velocity reaching 1.179 when frequency ranges coincide, exceeding values predicted by the quadratic summation rule. Differentiation of buildings into categories according to their structural scheme and technical condition, including historical structures, provided the basis for developing a three-level system of threshold criteria for monitoring systems that includes informational, warning, and emergency thresholds, supplemented by limits on equivalent daily vibration velocity and the maximum number of impulsive impacts. Accounting for frequency dependence, resonance phenomena with amplification coefficients of up to 3.72 on upper floors, and cumulative effects ensures a more accurate assessment of risks of structural damage. Identification of three main factors explaining 84.3% of data variance related to amplitude parameters, frequency characteristics, and cumulative impact confirms the comprehensiveness of the proposed approach. Validation of the criteria on an independent sample of structures demonstrates high predictive reliability with a minimal share of false alarms and missed hazardous events. The developed criteria facilitate optimization of real-time monitoring processes, enabling timely adjustment of technological parameters of construction works and minimization of risks to surrounding built-up areas in modern urbanized conditions.