VIBRATION AND ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS CAPABILITIES    

Earth Dynamics has more than twenty years of experience conducting a wide range of vibration and acoustic related studies.  Examples of recently completed studies include final environmental impact analysis for construction of an extension to the light rail system in Portland, Oregon, remote monitoring of vibration levels at sensitive equipment locations during construction projects, on-going monitoring and analysis of vibrations from quarry operations throughout the Pacific Northwest, vibration analysis of quarry operations in support of a land use application for a local quarry operation.  Earth Dynamics is also the “on-call” vibration and acoustic contractor for the Tri-County Metropolitan Service district in Oregon. 

Earth Dynamics also provides remote vibration monitoring with instant notification.   Notification when vibration levels exceed a certain level can be sent via text message and or email.  Call us to discuss your short term or long term vibration monitoring needs.

The scope of vibration and acoustic related services that Earth Dynamics offers is summarized below:  

bulletEnvironmental Impact Studies
bullet Vibration monitoring and analysis
bulletRemote vibration monitoring
bulletNoise monitoring and analysis
bulletReal-time narrow-band and octave-band frequency analysis
bullet Mechanical equipment evaluation
bullet Preventative maintenance programs
bullet Vibration and acoustic isolation design
bullet Blast design 
bulletPre-construction and pre-blast surveys

Current Equipment List

bulletEight 4-channel Instantel MiniMate Plus Seismographs
bulletOne 8-channel Instantel MiniMate Plus Seismograph
bulletFive White Industrial mini-seisII seismographs
bulletFive Geosonics, Inc. micro-seismographs
bulletA Bruel & Kjaer Dual Channel Real-time Frequency Analyzer, Type 2144
bulletA 4-channel Sound Technology SpectraPLUS FFT Spectral Measurement System
bulletThree Larson Davis Type 1, precision integrating and statistical data logging sound level meters. (Two Larson Davis Model 812 and one Larson Davis Model 820).

 

 

Examples of Typical Vibration and Acoustic Projects

CLIENT

DESCRIPTION

BLASTING:

 

ASI Construction/US Army Corps of Eng., Blue River, OR

Blast and pressure monitoring during lake tap at Cougar Dam, Blue River, OR

Knife River Corporation, Portland OR

Vibration monitoring during production blasting at basalt rock quarries.

Webber Quarry, Sweet Home, OR

Blast design for vibration mitigation, vibration monitoring and expert testimony.

Tigard Sand and Gravel, Wilsonville, OR

Vibration monitoring during blasting at a basalt rock quarry and expert testimony of vibration levels measured.

ELTE Construction Co. Boring, OR

Blast consultation and vibration monitoring for Otty Road Reservoir excavation, Clackamas, OR

US Army Corps of Engineers and Guy F. Atkinson Co. San Francisco, CA

Installed borehole accelerometers, reviewed blast designs and monitored blast vibrations during excavation of basalt near Bonneville Dam, OR

Kiewit-Pacific Co. Vancouver, WA

Blast consultation for excavation at Highway 101 and Highway 26 junction, Cannon Beach, OR

Oriad Powder Co. Oregon City, OR

Vibration and noise monitoring during quarry blasting: Oregon Rock Products, Tonquin Quarry; Tigard Sand and Gravel, Tigard Quarry, and Progress Quarry.

Piper Drilling and Blasting Portland, OR

Blast consultation and vibration monitoring during excavation of sewer lines in Oregon City, OR and Lake Oswego, OR

CONSTRUCTION:

 

KLB Construction/FE Ward

Vibration monitoring during blasting and pile driving during construction at the US-26/Sylvan interchange.

Braun Intertek Portland, OR

Vibration monitoring during pile driving near a recent landslide to help ensure that pile driving vibrations would not mobilize the landslide.

Morrison-Knudsen Corp. Tri-Met Light Rail Portland, OR

Vibration monitoring and analysis during pile driving and other construction activities to ensure that nearby structures are not damaged by construction activities.

Denver Green International Portland, OR

Consultation and vibration monitoring during pile driving at Terwilliger Bridge reconstruction, Portland, OR

Geotechnical Resources, Inc. Portland, OR

Monitored vibrations associated with mechanical excavation at Uptown Shopping Center, Portland, OR

Granite Construction and US Army Corps of Engineers Portland, OR

Evaluation of vibrations due to excavation of a tunnel through John Day Dam, OR

H.S. Wright Construction and Pittsburgh Testing Lab Portland, OR

Evaluation of the effects of pile driving vibrations on 'green' concrete at U.S. Bank Tower, Portland, OR

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES:

 

TW Environmental and Tri-Met.  Portland, OR

Evaluation of potential vibration impact of proposed South Corridor Light Rail in Portland, OR.  Study conducted in accordance with Federal Transit Authority guidelines.

SITE EVALUATIONS:

 

Siltec Silicon and Takenaka (USA) Portland, OR

Evaluation of ambient ground vibrations and noise prior to construction of a silicon wafer plant. Vibration isolation design recommendations were also provided.

SEH America and Performance Contracting Inc. Vancouver, WA

Analysis of building vibrations to certify vibration levels in a new clean room. Vibrations of sensitive instrumentation were also evaluated and design recommendations were provided.

Morse Bros. Construction Tangent, OR

Analysis of vibration attenuation characteristics at various proposed plant sites. Measured vibrations produced by various plant activities, and provided expert testimony to assist client in obtaining building permits.

Oregon Natural Gas Co. Portland, OR

Monitoring and evaluation of possible ground motions associated with underground gas storage.

Port of Portland and Geoengineers, Inc. Portland, OR

Monitoring and evaluation of ground vibration and air overpressure near the Portland International Airport.

EQUIPMENT ANALYSIS:

 

IPEC Planar and Intel Corp. Portland, OR

Vibration analysis of bearings in silicon wafer polishing machines.

ShinEtsu, SEH America Vancouver, WA

Vibration analysis of silicon wafer slicing machine. Data were used to help improve production rate.

Owens-Brockway Glass Portland, OR

Vibration analysis of air compressor to determine the source of excessive vibrations.

SAIF Corporation
Portland, OR

Analysis of the vibration produced by a chain saw. These data were used to help determine the validity of a worker’s compensation claim for vibration disease.

Pacific Fluid Systems Portland, OR

Vibration analysis of plywood lathe. Special attention was given to evaluation of the effects of lathe vibrations on servo hydraulic valves.