Ground vibrations due to dynamic compaction (DC), at a harbor site were measured to investigate whether the magnitude of vibrations were unacceptably strong to cause any damage to or increase existing damage on the surrounding structures experienced August 17, 1999 Kocaeli, Gölcük earthquake (M~7.4). The site is located in city of Kocaeli at the seaside of The Port of Derince. It was a reclaimed land formed with Hereke limestones. The measured data included vibrations induced by the tamping energy of DC both at the vicinity of nearby structures and within the DC site. The site was surrounded by a shallow isolation trench all along the land sides. This paper presents the case and the characteristics of vibration such as peak values of the records, Fourier spectrum and amplitude attenuations over distance. The predominant frequencies and amplitude of vibrations were compared to the related code limits to estimate the effect of vibrations on the existing structures
