Influence of load-bearing wall material properties on building mine-induced dynamic response

Various construction materials are used in contemporary building structures. Modern buildings face impacts like dead, live, snow, and wind load. They may also face extreme conditions, such as seismic activity, which can threaten their safety and functionality. Few publications address how construction material choice affects a building’s dynamic response to seismic impacts, including mining tremors. The main goal of this article is to analyse the effect of load-bearing wall materials on a building’s dynamic response to mine-induced vibrations. Seven materials with different properties were considered: two types of reinforced concrete (standard and high-strength oil palm shell lightweight), cellular concrete, standard brick, and three types of sand-lime bricks. Numerical analysis was based on a low-rise building with a typical wall-bearing structure. The finite element method (FEM) was used to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the building. The validity of the numerical model was verified through in situ experimental measurements of actual vibrations induced by mining tremors. The numerical predictions showed sufficient accuracy for a building with load-bearing walls made of brick. The study found that the properties of construction materials significantly impact the building’s dynamic behaviour under mine-induced excitations. The natural vibration frequencies of the building varied depending on the wall material used. The maximum vibration acceleration values due to mine tremors also varied significantly with the material type. Differences in maximum acceleration between materials reached up to 56.6% in some tremors. The highest values were observed for cellular concrete walls, which have the lowest stiffness. Using this material in areas affected by mine tremors is not advisable due to the high level of dynamic response, which could cause damage and negatively affect inhabitants. Fourier analyses of the calculated acceleration waveforms revealed differences in dominant vibration frequencies for different materials and tremors with varying energy levels. Although the vibration shapes of buildings with walls made of different materials were similar, the magnitudes of relative displacements differed. The dynamic response is complex, but for weaker tremors, displacement shapes in the longitudinal building direction dominated for all materials. The study concluded that the properties of load-bearing wall materials significantly influence the dynamic behaviour of a building subjected to mine-induced vibrations. This article makes significant scientific contributions and is innovative in several aspects. It presents a validated 3D FEM model for the numerical estimation of a building’s dynamic response to mine-induced kinematic loading. It also compares the effects of various construction materials on the dynamic response of buildings to mine-induced vibrations. By examining seven different materials within a single study, it adds valuable knowledge to the field. Additionally, it provides a practical finding that low-stiffness materials (especially cellular concrete) can lead to increased dynamic responses in mining areas, potentially posing a risk of damage.