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Controlled blasting design for efficient and sustainable underwater excavation: art meets science!

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Abstract

Underwater blasting, often known as submarine blasting, is used for a wide range of purposes. This includes harbor and channel widening, trench excavation for establishing oil and gas pipelines and communication cables, demolition operations, and substructure construction. Particularly, underwater rock blasting is the most difficult and least understood source of vibration, which may have a significant impact on the safety of neighboring buildings and structures, especially berthing structures. The main aim of the study is to design the blasting patterns and monitor the blast vibrations on substructures during real blasting. Furthermore, it is designed to monitor vibration movements and manage them in order to protect the coastal environments from the blasting effects and ensure the safety of various building structures, as well as to maintain the blasting efficiency. Dredging occurs in deep water, with depths ranging from 16 to 20 m, to remove only around 5 m of rock. As a result of the aqueous layer above the rock, this sort of blasting action demands a higher level of competence and understanding of the related activities performed above the surface of the water. The measuring and monitoring of underwater blast-generated vibration in the coastline structures at Nhava Sheva Port, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, were discussed in this study. When using underwater explosives, proper safety precautions are taken to protect workers, other vessels in the blasting zone, and buildings from blasting vibrations. With a case study, the authors provide a thorough overview of their approach to underwater blasting utilizing existing blasting technologies.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Anna University, Chennai, and the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, for granting the necessary permission to publish the paper. Thanks are also due to Shri. R. Ramesh, RKS Drilling Services, Chennai, for rendering necessary assistance during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600025, India

    P. Balamadeswaran & E. Kumar

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India

    A. K. Mishra

  3. Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 025, India

    K. Manikanda Bharath

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  1. P. Balamadeswaran
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  2. A. K. Mishra
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  3. K. Manikanda Bharath
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  4. E. Kumar
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Correspondence to P. Balamadeswaran.

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Balamadeswaran, P., Mishra, A.K., Manikanda Bharath, K. et al. Controlled blasting design for efficient and sustainable underwater excavation: art meets science!. Nat Hazards 114, 3701–3717 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05539-w

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