A PARAMETRIC STUDY OF WAVE BARRIERS FOR REDUCTION OF TRAIN-INDUCED VIBRATIONS

In this paper, a finite/infinite element scheme developed previously b y the authors' is employed to investigate the effectiveness of three d ifferent wave barriers, i.e., the open trench, in-filled trench, and e lastic foundation, in reducing the ground vibrations caused by the pas sage of trains. The mathematical model adopted herein is the two-dimen sional profile that contains the cross-section of the railway, barrier and underlying soils, with the moving train loads simulated as a vert ical harmonic line load. Concerning the effect of isolation, the geome tric and material parameters of the three barriers investigated includ e the distance to rail, depth, width and thickness, damping ratio, she ar modulus, mass density, Poisson's ratio, elastic modulus, etc. Also examined is the effectiveness of the three barriers with respect to di fferent exciting frequencies. Conclusions are made regarding the selec tion of optimal parameter values for the three barriers in isolating t he train-induced ground vibrations. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.