The use of trenches as mitigation solutions: numerical study

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2014

Authors

Barbosa, J (Author) Other; Costa, PA (Author) Other; Rui Calçada (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: EURODYN 2014: IX INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS

Pages: 879-886

9th International Conference on Structural Dynamics (EURODYN)

Porto, PORTUGAL, JUN 30-JUL 02, 2014

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-AWC

Abstract (EN): Trenches are known to be an efficient countermeasure for the mitigation of vibrations induced by railway traffic. However, comprehensive theoretical studies about the efficiency of this mitigation countermeasure are missing, which is justified, at least in part, due to the complexity inherent to the problem, where the 3-dimensional characteristics cannot be neglected and the source of the vibrations comprises moving loads. The present paper aims to contribute for a deeper understanding of the problem through numerical analysis of the efficiency of this type of mitigation countermeasure. For achieving the proposed goal, a 2.5D BEM-FEM procedure, which is based on the fundamental solutions obtained with the thin-layer method (TLM), is used to simulate the track-ground system. The 2.5D BEM-FEM procedure is chosen for this work due to its efficiency in modelling soil-structure interaction problems. Furthermore, the TLM is chosen to nurture the BEM due to its intrinsic characteristics, which avoid the numerical evaluation of an inverse Fourier transform and the spatial integration (Gaussian quadrature, for example) for the calculation of the boundary element coefficients/matrices. The geometry and properties of a stretch of the Portuguese Northern Line serves as scenario for this investigation, in which distinct trench solutions for the reduction of vibrations induced by the passage of an Alfa Pendular train are studied and compared. The solutions are: open trench; concrete trench and geofoam trench. It is observed that concrete trenches and open trenches perform better than geofoam trenches, and that the efficiency of trenches varies with the longitudinal position.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8