Excavation with tunnel boring machine (TBM) can generate vibrations, causing damages to neighbouring buildings and disturbing the residents or the equipment. This problem is particularly challenging in urban areas, where TBMs are increasingly large in diameter and shallow in depth. In response to this problem, four experimental campaigns were carried out in different geotechnical contexts in France. The vibration measurements were acquired on the surface and inside the TBMs. These measurements are also complemented by few data in the literature. An original methodology of signal processing is proposed to characterize the amplitude of the particle velocities, as well as the frequency content of the signals to highlight the most energetic bands. The levels of vibrations are also compared with the thresholds existing in various European regulations concerning the impact on neighbouring structures and the disturbance to local residents.

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Keywords: Ground-borne vibrations, Tunnel boring machine (TBM), In situ measurement, Dynamic characterization, Vibration levels, Site spectrum