In this paper, the procedure for deriving an infinite element that is compa
tible with the quadrilateral Q8 element is first summarized. Enhanced by a
self mesh-expansion procedure for generating the impedance matrices of diff
erent frequencies for the region extending to infinity, the infinite elemen
t is used to simulate the far field of the soil-structure system. The struc
ture considered here is of the box type and the soils are either homogeneou
s or resting on a bedrock. Using the finite/infinite element approach, a pa
rametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of open and in-filled
trenches in reducing the structural vibration caused by a train passing ne
arby, which is simulated as a harmonic line load. The key parameters that d
ominate the performance of wave barriers in reducing the structural vibrati
ons are identified. The results presented herein serve as a useful guidelin
e for the design of open and in-filled trenches concerning wave reduction.