Reduction of train-induced building vibrations by using open and filled trenches

A numerical investigation on the effectiveness of open and in-filled trenches in reducing the building vibrations due to passing trains is presented. Particularly, a two-dimensional soil-structure system containing the cross-section of a railway embankment, the underlying soil, a trench barrier and a nearby six-storey building is considered. For the analysis, a time domain coupled boundary element-finite element algorithm is employed. Unlike most of the previous formulations, this model completely considers the soil-structure interaction effects and directly determines the effect of the wave barrier on the structural response. The effects of geometrical and material properties of the trench and its back-fill material on the structural response are investigated. The results point out that using a trench barrier, a reduction level up to 80% of the building vibrations and internal forces can be achieved. Increasing the depth or the width of a trench may improve its,reduction effect and a softer backfill material results in a better isolation effect. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.