Train-induced ground vibrations: Modeling and experiments

Ground vibrations generated by high-speed trains are of great concern because of the possible damage they can cause to buildings or other structures near the track, and the annoyance to the public living in the vicinity of the track. Particularly in soft-soil regions, where the wave speed is comparable to the speed of the trains, a strong increase of the vibration level can occur. The objective of this study is to calculate the vibrations caused by a moving train and investigate the effect of train speed, oscillatory behaviour and, particularly, the track properties on the vibrational level. The surface motions generated by the moving train are computed with the help of a Green's function formulation and integral-equation methods. The integral equations are numerically solved in an efficient way with the use of slowness-domain techniques. The results of the model that has been developed to compute these vibrations, are compared with experimental data, from which a qualitative insight into the vibration problem is obtained. The experimental results show that a train generates a sinificant amount of Rayleigh waves. In particular the Rayleigh waves contribute largely to vibration annoyance. Moreover, the speed of these waves is lower than the intended maximum velocity of future high-speed trains in the Netherlands. The experimental data also show that the embankment behaves as a waveguide and ditches located along the track show a filtering behaviour to high-frequency waves. In general, the experimental and theoretical results agree well in a qualitative sense.Information Technology and System