# Investigation of Fault Effect on Blast-Induced Vibration
###### Abstract  
The propagation of blast-induced vibration velocity in the rock mass varies depending on many parameters. Due to a large number of effective parameters and the variability in the rock mass environment, it is not possible to create a vibration velocity propagation model using all of these parameters. On the other hand, it is important to determine the blast vibration velocity level in urban infrastructure works and mining operations near settlements. Recent studies on the subject have been interested in the determination of blast-induced vibration velocity by the back analysis estimations of advanced statistical approaches and artificial intelligence approaches. However, sudden changes in rock mass properties such as fault zones cause significant errors in the advanced statistical approaches functions used at the level of blast-induced vibration velocity. In this study, the variation of the blast-induced vibration velocities under the influence of the fault zone has been discussed. There is a fault zone along the northwest line of the Quarry boundary. The influence of the fault zone on the blast-induced vibration propagation was determined by comparing the vibration velocities behind the fault zone with the vibration velocities in the non-fault zone. Accordingly, it has been concluded that the fault zone has the potential to create significant differences due to the reflection/refraction of surface waves (Rayleigh and Love waves) in vibration velocity values in areas close to the fault zone have the potential. q  
t 20221227820222122221  
from blasting is not controlled only by amount of explosive per delay and distance from blast area. Many parameters affect blast induced vibration and propagation. Especially in bench blasting operations, in addition to the amount of explosive per delay and distance to the blast site, factors of blast patterns (distances between holes, burden, bench height, length of hole, stemming length, hole diameter, sub-drill) and rock mass properties are also important parameters [1]. On the other hand, geological features of the rock mass such as the fault zone affect the propagation of ground vibration and they play an active role in value of peak particle velocity. Some of the relevant works in the literature are summarized below. Rock masses are typically characterized by discontinuous and anisotropic in homogeneous structures. The discontinuous structures, such as faults, joints, fissures, and fractured zones, are randomly distributed in the rock mass and have important implications for blasting engineering. In blasting operations, natural cracks in the rock mass structure are changed by additional stresses induced by the blasting, and the shear strength of the structural surface is significantly reduced, thereby decreasing the stability of the rock [4; 5; 6]. Far from shot point, ground and rock mass characteristics, which carries the seismic waves, effects the vibration feature and specialty [7; 8]. At short range, a wave radiates spherically and amplitude diminishes inversely with distance from the blast. At longer ranges, two other factors affect the propagation process: (1) the wave splits into three types of wave that travel at different speeds and (2) variations in the medium such as layering or fissuring may introduce further scattering and dispersal effects [9; 10]. A major geological fault intersecting the path may largely prevent propagation in a particular direction [9]. [PERSON] et al. examined using an acceleration-time wave typical of a mine blast, a pit slope containing a fault under seismic loading caused by successive explosions with varying intensity. They selected some reference points above/under the fault surface and their motions recorded during the FE analysis. According to their results, they found that the points above the fault surface had the greatest displacement, while below the fault surface, only minimal (negligible) motions occurred [11]. [PERSON] et al.