Reduction of train-induced vibrations on adjacent buildings

In this paper, the procedure for deriving an infinite element that is compatible with the quadrilateral Q8 element is first summarized. Enhanced by a self mesh-expansion procedure for generating the impedance matrices of different frequencies for the region extending to infinity, the infinite element is used to simulate the far field of the soil-structure system. The structure considered here is of the box type and the soils are either homogeneous or resting on a bedrock. Using the finite/infinite element approach, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of open and in-filled trenches in reducing the structural vibration caused by a train passing nearby, which is simulated as a harmonic line load. The key parameters that dominate the performance of wave barriers in reducing the structural vibrations are identified. The results presented herein serve as a useful guideline for the design of open and in-filled trenches concerning wave reduction.