The Practical

Regulatory Scheme
• Limit Peek Particle Velocity to
Levels that would generally be
acceptable even if you hit the
natural frequency
• Three Approaches
• Use a Standard Formula and check
the design
• Develop your own empirical
formula
Common Formulas

• Du Pont Formula
• V = 160 * [ ( Dist / Ch ) 0.5 ] -1.6
• V is peak particle velocity in
inches/sec
• Dist is distance from charge to
protected structure or point of
compliance
• Ch is the charge fired on any one
delay interval of 8 milliseconds of
time
Other Formulas
• Formulas have the form
• V = K1 * [ Dist / (Ch) 0.5 ] K
2

• Schemes try to make charge a

function
• V / K1 = [ Dist / (Ch) 0.5 ] K2
• ( V / K1 ) (1 / K2 ) = [ Dist / (Ch) 0.5]
• Ch = { Dist / [ (V / K1) (1/K2)] } 2
• Ch = ( Dist / K3 ) 2
• Coal Industry Regulatory
Damage Criteria
• 0.2 Inches/Sec - Humans Detect
Motion
• 1 In/Sec - OSM Regulators Panic
• 2 In/Sec - Lowest Detected
Threshold for trace damage under
worst case
• 2.8 to 3.3 - Threshold for minor wet
plaster cracks
• 4.1 Plaster Cracks Expected
• 5.4 50% Prob Plaster Cracks and
Falls Broken Windows