Correlating Near-Source Rock Damage from Single-Hole Explosions to Seismic Waves (Postprint)

Weston Geophysical Corporation (WGC) and New England Research, Inc. (NER) conducted the New England Damage Experiment (NEDE) in July 2008. The experiment included the detonation of chemical explosions in relatively unfractured, homogeneous Barre granite in Vermont, USA. Barre granite has been a worldwide standard for homogeneous, low fracture-density granite in commercial, monument, and industrial settings. The emplacement granite was characterized before and after the experiment using borehole cores and acoustic imaging. The explosions were designed with variable velocities of detonations (VOD) to fracture the rock differently. Our hypothesis was that different damage would lead to possible variations in S wave generation. During the past year, we have quantified the damage from the explosions on micro, meso, and macro scales and examined the seismic wave generation and propagation at near-source, local, and regional distances.