Damage to structures due to vibrations from pile driving operations is of great concern to engineers. This research has stemmed from the need to address potential damage to concrete-filled pipe piles and recently placed concrete structures that could be affected by pile driving vibrations. The study will focus on two topics: (1) The attenuation of potentially damaging pile driving vibrations with distance from the source, and (2) The effects of distance and curing time of concrete on the quality (unconfined compressive strength) of recentlyplaced concrete exposed to pile driving vibrations. The effects of pile driving vibrations did not cause problems with concrete compressive strength except for the case where concrete had only cured for 4 to 6 hours before vibration.

The observations made by Paracelsus concerning the dose-effect relationship of poison are generally just as applicable to health threatening vibration. With regard to kind, intensity, and duration of the vibration, the "dose" is decisive as to whether the conse quences are detrimental, unmeaningful, or tolerable with respect to health. This law of nature determines the tasks and goals of those whose aim is to safeguard health. Researchers worldwide have been occupying themselves with this many-faceted question for some time: how mechanical vibration affects the human organism and at what point damage occurs. If prevention in occupational medicine is to succeed, it is most important that the gaps in our present knowledge be closed, for if technical preventive measures are to be effective and preventive means in occupational medicine successful, they must be based on reliable and complete findings. Whenever many independent researchers have worked in a given field for a long period, a comprehensive intermediate as sessment is appropriate to evaluate the level achieved and the direction the research is going. In the area of hand-arm vibration, this evaluation has already been carried out, and the response aroused by this particular research report had led to a demand for a comparable evaluation of the research results on whole-body vibration. This report presents clearly and exhaustively the current status of international knowledge, as well as the questions that remain to be answered.

This book equips the reader with a compact information source on all the most recent methodological tools available in the area of reliability prediction and analysis. Topics covered include reliability mathematics, organisation and analysis of data, reliability modelling and system reliability evaluation techniques. Environmental factors and stresses are taken into account in computing the reliability of the involved components. The limitations of models, methods, procedures, algorithms and programmes are outlined. The treatment of maintained systems is designed to aid the worker in analysing systems with more realistic and practical assumptions. Fault tree analysis is also extensively discussed, incorporating recent developments. Examples and illustrations support the reader in the solving of problems in his own area of research. The chapters provide a logical and graded presentation of the subject matter bearing in mind the difficulties of a beginner, whilst bridging the information gap for the more experienced reader. The work will be of considerable interest to engineers working in various industries, research organizations, particularly in defence, nuclear, chemical, space or communications. It will also be an indispensable study aid for serious-minded students and teachers.

The entire field of construction-induced vibrations - including advances in earthquake engineering, nuclear blast protective design, and construction and mine blasting - is covered in this work. Frequency of vibration and strain form the foundation for the presentation of the material.