Ground vibration is the most common cause of blast complaints and stoppages. The good news: PPV can be controlled with design discipline, not guesswork.
1. Reduce Charge Per Delay
PPV scales with the square root of charge weight per delay. Splitting a 200 kg delay into two 100 kg delays cuts vibration by roughly 30%.
2. Optimize Delay Timing
Timing sequences that avoid constructive interference between holes can reduce peak particle velocity significantly. NONEL and electronic detonators give you this control.
3. Increase Burden & Spacing Judiciously
More confinement means more vibration. Correct burden/spacing ratios reduce energy wasted on crushing rock in place.
4. Use Stemming Effectively
Proper stemming length and material confine the blast and reduce air overpressure and flyrock risk.
5. Blast in the Right Direction
Direct the free face away from sensitive structures. Vibration is lower in the direction of burden relief.
6. Monitor Every Blast
Seismograph records let you build a site-specific attenuation model — the foundation of accurate PPV prediction.
7. Predict Before You Blast
ML models trained on your site data predict PPV for each proposed design, so you adjust before firing — not after a complaint.
Our blast engineering team applies all seven techniques on every project. Ask us for a vibration audit.