GGU-VIBRATION: Vibrating pile driver
For a vibrating pile driver the following "Edit/Systemparameters" dialog box opens:
One of three building types can be selected for investigation of the vibration impact in the "Type of building" box:
Commercial and industrial buildings
Residential buildings
Particularly sensitive buildings.
Based on the investigated building type the program determines the allowable vibration velocities according to Table 7.1 in Bulletin 61 (IGBE, Hannover University), which are then compared to the existing vibration velocities once analysis is complete. The program issues a warning message if the allowable values are exceeded.
"Analyse for" specifies whether the analysis is carried for "Unfavourable values" or for "Probable values". "Unfavourable values" in this context means that only 2.25 % of the measurements evaluated by ACHMUS et al. showed no damage (2.25 % exceeding probability). "Probable values" have an exceeding probability of 50%.
The resulting ground vibration acceleration aGround,R is calculated using Equation 7.2 in Bulletin 61:
aGround,R = 2 · 
The variable f represents the working frequency of the equipment.
The building settlement hazard can be assessed using the resulting ground vibration acceleration
aGround,R. The allowable value, including for soils susceptible to collapse, is:
aGround,R 1/3 · g = 3,300 mm/s² = 3.3 m/s²
The program issues a warning message if the allowable values are exceeded.
The distance of the selected equipment to the building is given in "Distance to building". Of course, the greater the distance, the lower the impact on the building.
The power [kW] and frequency [1/s] or [Hz] of vibrating pile drivers must be given. The maximum component of the footing vibration velocity vF,i,max according to Table 9.3 in Bulletin 61 is computed using these values. In the central area of the dialog box the equipment name and the corresponding data can be entered manually. Alternatively, the required equipment can be selected from a list of common commercial appliances and be adopted by the program by pressing the "Equipment data" button at the bottom of the "Vibrating pile driver" dialog box.
The transmission coefficients only need now be entered in the lower group box of the dialog box "Vibrating pile driver". The maximum component of the footing vibration velocity vF,i,max computed above is multiplied by these factors. The resulting values can be compared to the allowable values given in Table 7.1 in Bulletin 61 in order to assess the impact on the selected building type. Two message boxes provide information on the required input.