Effect of Soft Interlayer Dip Angle on the Attenuation and Prediction of Blast-Induced Vibrations in Rock Slopes: An Experimental Study

Chen, Sheng; Jiang, Nan; Sun, Ying; Pan, Jian; He, Liping; Guo, Jianxiong; Zhang, Jikui; Zhang, Zicheng

doi:10.3390/app15126683

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Effect of Soft Interlayer Dip Angle on the Attenuation and Prediction of Blast-Induced Vibrations in Rock Slopes: An Experimental Study

by

Sheng Chen

¹,

Nan Jiang

^2,*

,

Ying Sun

³,

Jian Pan

⁴,

Liping He

⁵,

Jianxiong Guo

^1,2,

Jikui Zhang

⁶ and

Zicheng Zhang

⁶

¹

CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510230, China

²

State Key Laboratory of Precision Blasting, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China

³

CCCC Key Laboratory of Environment Protection and Safety in Foundation Engineering of Transportation, Guangzhou 510230, China

⁴

Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd., Qinzhou 535000, China

⁵

CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510290, China

⁶

Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6683; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126683

Submission received: 23 April 2025 / Revised: 1 June 2025 / Accepted: 10 June 2025 / Published: 13 June 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tunnel and Underground Engineering—2nd Edition)

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Abstract

Rock slopes containing weak interlayers are highly prone to instability under the disturbance of blasting vibrations due to the influence of structural planes. To address the limitations of traditional models in predicting vibration attenuation for such slopes, this study conducted in situ blasting tests on sand–mudstone interbedded slopes from the Pinglu Canal project. Based on dimensional analysis, the Sadowsky formula was modified to incorporate both elevation difference (H/R) and soft interlayer dip angle (θ), resulting in an enhanced predictive model. Field data revealed that the proposed model significantly improved prediction accuracy, with determination coefficients (r²) increasing from 0.847 to 0.9946 in the vertical (Z) direction. Compared to traditional models, the root mean square error (RMSE) decreased by 96%, demonstrating superior capability in capturing vibration attenuation influenced by geological heterogeneity. Key findings reveal that steeper interlayer dip angles significantly accelerate PPV attenuation, particularly in the X direction. These findings provide a critical tool for optimizing blasting parameters in layered rock slopes, effectively mitigating collapse risks and enhancing construction safety. The model’s practicality was validated through its application in the Pinglu Canal project, offering a paradigm for similar engineering challenges in complex geological settings.

Keywords: blasting vibration; rock slope; attenuation; soft interlayer

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MDPI and ACS Style

Chen, S.; Jiang, N.; Sun, Y.; Pan, J.; He, L.; Guo, J.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, Z. Effect of Soft Interlayer Dip Angle on the Attenuation and Prediction of Blast-Induced Vibrations in Rock Slopes: An Experimental Study. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 6683. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126683

AMA Style

Chen S, Jiang N, Sun Y, Pan J, He L, Guo J, Zhang J, Zhang Z. Effect of Soft Interlayer Dip Angle on the Attenuation and Prediction of Blast-Induced Vibrations in Rock Slopes: An Experimental Study. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(12):6683. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126683

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chen, Sheng, Nan Jiang, Ying Sun, Jian Pan, Liping He, Jianxiong Guo, Jikui Zhang, and Zicheng Zhang. 2025. "Effect of Soft Interlayer Dip Angle on the Attenuation and Prediction of Blast-Induced Vibrations in Rock Slopes: An Experimental Study" Applied Sciences 15, no. 12: 6683. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126683

APA Style

Chen, S., Jiang, N., Sun, Y., Pan, J., He, L., Guo, J., Zhang, J., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Effect of Soft Interlayer Dip Angle on the Attenuation and Prediction of Blast-Induced Vibrations in Rock Slopes: An Experimental Study. Applied Sciences, 15(12), 6683. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126683

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Effect of Soft Interlayer Dip Angle on the Attenuation and Prediction of Blast-Induced Vibrations in Rock Slopes: An Experimental Study

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