Attenuation of ground vibrations using in-filled wave barriers

Ground vibrations generated by construction activities can adversely affect the structural health of adjacent buildings and foundations supporting them. Therefore propagation and rate of attenuation of construction induced ground vibrations is important during construction activities, particularly in urban areas where constructions are carried out in the vicinity of existing structures. In practice wave barriers are installed in the ground to mitigate the ground vibration propagation and hence to minimise the effect of ground vibrations on surrounding structures. Different types of fill materials such as bentonite, EPS geofoam and concrete are used in constructing wave barriers. In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model is developed to study the efficiency of different fill materials in attenuating ground vibrations. The model is first verified using data from full scale field experiments, where EPS geofoam has been used as a fill material in wave barriers. Then the same model has been used to evaluate the efficiency of open trenches, water filled wave barriers and EPS geofoam filled wave barriers on attenuation of ground vibrations. EPS geofoam is found to be the most efficient fill material, providing attenuation efficiency closer to open trenches. The efficiency of EPS geofoam and water filled wave barriers can be significantly increased by increasing the depth of the wave barrier.     

Attenuation of ground vibrations due to different technical sources

The attenuation of technically induced surface waves is studied theoretically and experimentally.In this paper, nineteen measurements of ground vibrations induced by eight different technical sources including road and rail traffic, vibratory and impulsive construction work or pile driving, explosions, hammer impulses and mass drops are described, and it is shown that the technically induced ground vibrations exhibit a power-law attenuation v～r-q where the exponents q are in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 and depend on the source types.Comparisons performed demonstrate that the measured exponents are considerably higher than theoretically expected.Some potential effects on ground vibration attenuation are theoretically analyzed.The most important effect is due to the material or scattering damping.Each frequency component is attenuated exponentially as exp(-kr), but for a broad-band excitation, the sum of the exponential laws also yields a power law but with a high exponent.Additional effects are discussed, for example the dispersion of the Rayleigh wave due to soil layering, which yields an additional exponent of 0.5 in cases of impulsive loading.     

Prediction of free field vibrations due to pile driving using a dynamic soil–structure interaction formulation

This paper presents a numerical model for the prediction of free field vibrations due to vibratory and impact pile driving. As the focus is on the response in the far field where deformations are relatively small, a linear elastic constitutive behaviour is assumed for the soil. The free field vibrations are calculated by means of a coupled FE–BE model based on a subdomain formulation. First, the case of vibratory pile driving is considered, where the contributions of different types of waves are investigated for several penetration depths. In the near field, the soil response is dominated by a vertically polarized shear wave, whereas in the far field, body waves are importantly attenuated and Rayleigh waves dominate the ground vibration. Second, the case of impact pile driving is considered. A linear wave equation model is used to estimate the impact force during the driving process. Apart from the response of a homogeneous halfspace, it is also investigated how the soil stratification influences the ground vibration for the case of a soft layer on a stiffer halfspace. When the penetration depth is smaller than the layer thickness, the layered medium has no significant influence on ground vibrations. However, when the penetration depth is larger than the layer thickness, the influence of the layered medium becomes more significant. The computed ground vibrations are finally compared with field measurements reported in the literature.     

基于爆破荷载等效施加方法的振动波形预测与古建筑安全评估

隧道爆破开挖产生的振动对邻近的古建筑有着不容忽视的安全影响,为研究爆破振动波的传播规律以及预测地面振动效应和分析临近古建筑结构的安全性,以拉卜楞隧道为依托,采用现场实测结合数值模拟分析的方法,预测爆破荷载作用下拉卜楞寺的动力响应。结果表明：(1)随着单响总药量的增加,质点振动速度增大,衰减比也随之增大,说明高频振动衰减快,低频振动衰减慢;(2)通过理论计算将爆破荷载等效施加在弹性边界或隧道开挖轮廓面上,动力模拟结果表明在大于40 m的中远区两者振速变化规律趋于一致,故将荷载施加在开挖轮廓面上是合理的;(3)爆破地震波自由界面处体波经过反射形成沿表面传播的Rayleigh波,结合数值模拟山体内部地震波的传播规律发现,经反射叠加山体内部形成复杂的振动区;(4)当地震波到达拉卜楞寺最近点时,径向振速峰值为0.000 672 cm/s,垂向振速峰值为0.000 448 cm/s,合成振速峰值为0.000 807 cm/s,远小于古建筑安全振动控制标准。     

Propagation and attenuation characteristics of various ground vibrations

In order to effectively control vibration related problems, the development of a reliable vibration monitoring system and the proper assessment of attenuation characteristics of various vibrations are essential. Various ground vibrations caused by train loading, blasting, friction pile driving and hydraulic hammer compaction were measured using 3D geophones inside of the borehole as well as on the ground surface, and the propagation and attenuation characteristics of various source generated vibrations were investigated by analyzing particle motions. For the geometric modeling of various vibrations, the types of various sources and their induced waves were characterized and the geometric damping coefficients were determined. The measured attenuation data matched well with the predicted data when using the suggested geometric damping coefficient, and the estimated soil damping ratios were quite reasonable taking soil type of the site and experiencing strain level into consideration.     

地铁运行引起的地面振动实测及传播规律分析

对地铁线路某区间段的地面振动进行实测,采集不同测线和不同测点处的水平方向、竖直方向加速度,并转化为傅里叶幅值谱对其进行衰减规律分析。利用公式将加速度记录换算为振级和分频振级,参照相关的国家标准分析不同距离处的振级和频率成分。对比同一加速度记录中的两对开方向列车引起的地面振动,进一步分析振动衰减的规律。所得到的结果可供地面建筑的隔振减振及城市轨道的规划和设计参考。     

随机振动下大跨度钢管混凝土柱结构抗震性能测试方法

由地震等自然灾害引发的等级多变强随机振动会对大跨度钢管混凝土柱结构产生较大的破坏,造成相关建筑全结构寿命周期性衰减。提出一种随机振动下大跨度钢管混凝土柱结构的抗震性测试方法,在等级多变强随机振动的情况下,设计测试模型,利用信号的协方差矩阵将振动信号与噪声进行分离,通过计算振动信号的强度、后验密度及权值系数等对振动信号进行预处理,获取单一寿命衰减参数;在此基础上引入粒子群算法,求解大跨度钢管混凝土柱结构寿命衰减抑制周期,判断其抗震性。实验结果表明,按照大跨度钢管混凝土柱结构寿命衰减抑制周期的判断方法,可实现对相关建筑结构在等级多变强随机振动下的抗震性测试。     

Study of the train-induced vibration impact on a historic Bell Tower above two spatially overlapping metro lines

There is concern regarding the long-term vibration effects caused by metro trains on historic buildings. In this paper, the impact of metro train-induced vibrations on the Bell Tower in Xi’an above two spatially overlapping tunnels was studied.Metro Line 2 has been operational since 2011, and Line 6 is still under construction. To study and control the effect of micro vibrations on the Bell Tower, a metro train–track–tunnel–soil 3D dynamic FE model was developed. The vibration response generated by Line 2 was then predicted, and the influences of train speed on ground vibration were analysed. In addition, a detailed in situ measurement, which helped calibrate the numerical model and determine the dynamic behaviour of timber structures, was performed. Finally, the calibrated models and measured results were used to predict vibrations caused by road traffic and trains from two spatially overlapping metro lines. This was performed under different route schemes and train operation conditions.The results showed that installing steel spring floating slab tracks (FST) and decreasing train speeds had obvious effects on controlling the ground peak particle velocity (PPV). Simulated results from both the input impulse and output response generated by metro Line 2 matched well with actual measurements. If correct designs are employed, it is possible to resolve the vibration problem on historic buildings caused by metro trains.     

轨道附近地面振动模型中的饱和地层动力格林函数

列车引起场地振动的建模需要能够表达地层的动力格林函数.本文兼顾饱和土的流固两相耦合性、场地土的分层性和波动的三维传播性,构建了半解析的场地动力格林函数.首先,基于Biot方程,在傅里叶变换域求解固体骨架和流体的位移和应力.然后采用传递矩阵方法建立地表位移和应力间的关系,得到格林函数矩阵.进而讨论矩阵的一些固有特征,提出改善竖向位移计算效率的措施.最后利用推导的格林函数计算了几个典型算例.数值结果与文献中其他方法得到的结果十分接近,与场地振动的现场观测试验基本符合.软土场地振动的计算结果高于饱和砂土场地,高速列车场地振动强度高于低速列车.当车速接近场地瑞利波速,模拟结果中显示出马赫锥.数值结果还显示,即使车速略低于瑞利波速,马赫锥也可能出现.本文推导的格林函数将有助于深入理解列车等移动激励作用下层状饱和土场地的振动特征.     

Numerical modeling of vibrations induced by railway traffic in tunnels: From the source to the nearby buildings

In this paper, a numerical approach for the prediction of vibrations induced in buildings due to railway traffic in tunnel is proposed. The numerical method is based on a sub-structuring approach, where the train is simulated by a multi-body model; the track–tunnel–ground system is modeled by a 2.5D FEM–PML approach; and the building by resource to a 3D FEM method. The coupling of the building to the ground is established taking into account the soil–structure-interaction (SSI). The methodology proposed allows dealing with the three-dimensional characteristics of the problem with a reasonable computational effort. Using the proposed model, a numerical study is developed in order to better discern the impact of the use of floating slabs systems for the isolation of vibrations in the tunnel on the dynamic response of a building located in the surrounding of the tunnel. The comparison between isolated and non-isolated scenarios allowed concluding that the mats stiffness is a key parameter on the efficiency of floating slab systems. Furthermore, it was found that the selection of the stiffness of the mats should be performed carefully in order to avoid amplification of vertical vibrations of the slabs of the building.     

Simulations and analyses of train-induced ground vibrations in finite element models

Analyses of the actual vibration measurements and the results from the mathematical and numerical models have been performed in both the frequency and time domains. The conclusions from these analyses were that two-dimensional models could be used in order to study certain effects of train-induced ground vibrations, but that three-dimensional analyses are necessary to achieve a better simulation of the problem. All these analyses were linear elastic. It was, however, found in the three-dimensional analyses that relatively large shear strains existed in the embankment and in the soft soil layers just beneath the railway embankment. These shear strains were taken into consideration through iterative reduction of the shear modulus of the materials where large shear strains were calculated.     

振动压路机地面振动对建筑物的影响

研究了振动压路机的地面振动衰减关系，指出压路机的激振力、振动频率和场地土质条件都是影响振动衰减的重要因素，提出了各类建筑物安全振动速度的标准，评价了振动压路机施工振动对建筑物的影响。     

Evaluation of ground vibration effect of blasting operations in a magnesite mine

Ground vibrations induced by blasting are one of the fundamental problems in the mining industry and may cause severe damage to structures and plants nearby. Therefore, a vibration control study plays an important role in the minimization of environmental effects of blasting in mines. This paper presents the results of ground vibration measurement induced by bench blasting at Magnesite Incorporated Company (MAS) open pit mine in Turkey. The scope of this study is to predict peak particle velocity and to determine the slope of the attenuation curve for this site. For this purpose, the blasting parameters of 43 shots were carefully recorded and the ground vibration components were measured for each event. After carrying out statistical analysis, the site specific parameters were determined to predict the peak particle velocity. In the light of this analysis, the prediction graphics of maximum charge weight per delay versus distance for different damage criteria was proposed to be able to perform controlled blasting in order not to damage to the nearby structures, especially to the plant where rotary and shaft kilns have been established.     

Availability of seismic vulnerability index (Kg) in the assessment of building damage in Van,Eastern Turkey

The seismic vulnerability index(Kg) is a parameter that depends on the dynamic properties of soil. With this parameter, it is possible to evaluate the vulnerability of a point-based site under strong ground motion. Since it is related to the natural vibration period and amplification factor, the parameter can be calculated for both soil and structure. In this study, HVSR microtremor measurements are recorded at more than 200 points in the Van region to generate a seismic vulnerability index map. After generating the map, it is determined that the hazard potential and seismic vulnerability index is high at the sites close to Van Lake and at the densely populated city center. Damage information of the buildings investigated after the 2011 Van earthquakes(Mw = 7.1) are placed on the seismic vulnerability index map and it is realized that there may be a correlation between the damage and the seismic vulnerability index. There is a high correlation, approximately 80 percent, between the damage rate map based on the damaged building data and the K_g values. In addition, vulnerability indexes of buildings are calculated and the effect of local soil conditions and building properties on the damage levels are determined. From the results of this study and the site observations after the 2011 Van earthquakes, it is found that structural damage is not only structure-dependent but is also related to the dynamic behavior of soil layers and local soil conditions.     

利用测试法综合评判打桩振动对建筑物的影响

随着城市建设发展,打桩振动引起的纠纷日渐增多。结合某工程场地打桩振动测试,通过研究场地各方向的衰减规律,综合考虑打桩振动的各影响因素,对实测数据进行分析处理。选择适当的标准评价打桩振动对周边民房影响程度,确定影响范围。     

Reduction in ground vibrations by using shaped landscapes

Reduction in traffic-induced ground vibrations by the use of shaped landscapes is investigated here by shaping the landscape surrounding a high-tech facility, using the landscape thus produced as a wave obstacle. The effects of the geometric parameters of a shaped landscape were examined in parametric studies. An architectural landscape design was also investigated in terms of its effectiveness in reducing traffic-induced ground vibrations. Finite element models, analysed in the frequency domain, were employed. The models involve a layer of soil and the underlying bedrock. It was found that anywhere from an appreciable reduction to an appreciable amplification of the vibrations produced can occur, depending upon the geometric parameters of the shaped landscape involved. The most effective shape was found for a topography that acted as a waveguide that reduced the level of vibration by approximately 35%.     

Effect of soil stiffness in the attenuation of Rayleigh-wave motions from field measurements

The amplitude of vertical ground surface vibrations generated by impact tests on the ground surface was measured at various radial distances from the point of impact at locations of Greece. The results of measurements were analyzed in the frequency domain (in the range from 0–100 Hz) and the attenuation characteristics of soil materials were studied in terms of a frequency-independent attenuation coefficient, a₀, of the empirical Bornitz equation. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of soil stiffness (expressed by the value of low-amplitude shear wave velocity of soil, V_SO) on the value of attenuation coefficient, a₀. Values of V_SO for the tested soils were estimated by applying the methodology of Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) technique and utilizing the surface vibration data. An empirical relationship between a₀ and V_SO1 (V_SO1 is the representative value of V_SO for the soil profile up to a depth of one wavelength) was established for values of V_SO1 ranging from 140 to 1000 m/s. A similar relationship in terms of the low-amplitude shear modulus of soil, G_O1, was also established by converting the V_SO1 values to G_O1 values. The experimental results were compared to values reported in the literature for comparable soil types and frequencies of vibration and a reasonable agreement was found to exist. The proposed empirical relationship can be utilized in many practical applications of soil dynamics requiring the knowledge of the attenuation rate of Rayleigh waves with distance in various types of soils.     

沪宁城际铁路高架桥段CRH动车组运行引起的地面振动现场测试与分析

对沪宁城际铁路CRH动车组运行引起的高架桥段地面振动竖向速度和加速度进行了现场测试,分析了地面振动特征及其传播的衰减规律。结果表明：CRH动车组运行引起的地面振动主频在70Hz以下,属于低频振动;地面振动峰值速度和加速度随着离高架桥距离的增大而减小,20m以内地面振动衰减幅度较大;地面振动峰值随列车时速的提高而增大,车厢数量对地面振动峰值和主频成分的影响不明显;CRH动车组运行引起的地面振动对一般性建筑物影响不大,列车时速为300km左右时,地面振动速度超过办公室等公共建筑的允许值,列车时速为200km左右时,地面振动速度超过居民住宅的允许值;与其他高速铁路的地面振动实测值相比,沪宁城际铁路CRH动车组运行引起的高架桥段地面振动强度相对较低。     

Contribution of ambient vibration recordings (free-field and buildings) for post-seismic analysis: The case of the Mw 7.3 Martinique (French Lesser Antilles) earthquake,November 29, 2007

Following the Mw 7.3 Martinique earthquake, November 29^th, 2007, a post-seismic survey was conducted by the Bureau Central Sismologique Français (BCSF) for macroseismic intensities assessment. In addition to the inventories, ambient vibration recordings were performed close to the particularly damaged zones in the free-field and the buildings. The objective of the paper is to show the relevancy of performing ambient vibration recordings for post-earthquake surveys. The analyses of the recordings aim at explaining the variability of the damages through site effects, structure vulnerability or resonance phenomena and to help the characterization of the post-seismic building integrity. In three sites prone to site effects, we suspect damage to be related to a concordance between soil fundamental frequency and building resonance frequency. Besides, the recordings of ambient vibrations at La Trinité hospital before and after the earthquake allow us to quantify the damage due to earthquake in terms of stiffness loss.     

In situ experiments and seismic analysis of existing buildings. Part II: Seismic integrity threshold

The interest of in situ measurements (presented in Part I paper) for a seismic assessment of existing buildings is analysed in this paper. It is shown that the experimental modal characteristics obtained on regular concrete structures are described successfully by suited Timoshenko beam modelling. For a given structure, taking into account the experimental data, the corresponding beam model, and choosing the maximum tensile strain of concrete as damage criterion for key structural elements, a maximum level of the ground acceleration can be determined. This so‐called seismic integrity threshold is directly related to the onset of structural damages. This new approach is illustrated on one of the studied buildings. The advantages of using ambient vibrations survey for the vulnerability assessment of existing buildings are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.