Ground-borne vibrations due to railway traffic in urbanized areas: A numerical study about traffic in trench cross-sections

Abstract

Modern cities require efficient mass transportation systems like subway and railway networks. Due to the lack of available space and also due to environmental concerns, it is usually preferable to use the underground space to construct such kind of infrastructures. In this context, several railway lines run in trench cross-sections in urbanized regions. This option permits to save space, allowing reducing the distance between railway lines and existing buildings. Due to that reduced distance, nearby buildings are exposed to relevant levels of vibrations that can annoys their inhabitants. In the present paper a numerical investigation about the dynamic aspects related with wave propagation due to railway traffic in trench cross-sections is presented. For that purpose, a 2.5D FEM-PML formulation is adopted for the simulation of the main system (track-retaining structure-ground), while the rolling stock is simulated by a multi-body approach. A reference scenario is previously presented, being followed by a parametric study where the influence of the geotechnical properties of the ground was analyzed.