Reduction of ground vibration by means of barriers or soil improvement along a railway track

Trains running in built-up areas are a source to ground-borne noise. A careful design of the track may be one way of minimizing the vibrations in the surroundings. For example, open or infilled trenches may be constructed along the track, or the soil underneath the track may be improved. In this work, the influence of the track design and properties on the level of ground vibration due to a vehicle moving with subsonic speed is examined. A coupled finite element-boundary element model of the track and subsoil is employed, adopting a formulation in the moving frame of reference following the vehicle. The computations are carried out in the frequency domain for various combinations of the vehicle speed and the excitation frequency. The analyses indicate that open trenches are more efficient than infilled trenches or soil stiffening–even at low frequencies. However, the direction of the load is of paramount importance. For example, the response outside a shallow open trench may change dramatically when horizontal load is applied instead of vertical load.     

Interceptor Trenches for Positive Ground Water Control

Interceptor trenches are an effective ground water control method at waste management sites. Trenches may be installed without disturbing the wastes, and the withdrawal of ground water recovers contaminants that have left the waste management perimeter. The rapid and steep depression of the piezometric surface on both sides of the trench is positive proof of a barrier to horizontal flow across the trench in the affected permeable units.
Historically, the construction of interceptor trenches has been very difficult. A new and efficient installation method has been developed and successfully utilized for several applications at a petrochemical facility on the Texas coastal plain. Rapid and cost-effective installation is made possible by innovations in sump and trench construction and the tie-in between the two.
The sump is constructed first using standard well construction techniques to drill a 96-inch diameter hole to contain the 42-inch diameter polyethylene pipe sump. A European designed and fabricated trenching machine then excavates the trench, inserts the drainage pipe and backfills with sand and/or gravel in one operation. A specially designed perforated pipe entry door built into the side of the sump barrel provides for efficient and safe connection of the drainage pipe to the specially designed collection sump. The effectiveness of interceptor trenches has been confirmed in full scale applications through the reversal of flow gradients and the prevention of continued horizontal migration of ground water contaminants.     

Global tectonics and the geoid

A digitised tectonic model, initially built up for regionalization of Rayleigh waves, is applied to the geoid in order to define the mean geoid heights of the following regions: 3 oceanic regions, namely young oceans (0–30 Ma) middle-aged oceans (30–80 Ma) and old oceans (> 80 Ma); trenches and subduction zones; mountains; and shields. The relative importance of the deep sources is damped or enhanced by progressively removing or adding the lower or higher degrees of the geoid. A statistical approach allows us to quantify the success of the correlation between tectonics and these filtered geoids.Significant variations are observed in these correlations for oceanic regions (including subduction zones) with a cut-off between degree-2 and higher degrees. For degrees ? 3, a well-known trend is observed: high values correspond to young oceans (ridges) and low values to old oceans, high values are also obtained for subduction zones. On the contrary, and unexpectedly, for the degree-2 alone a trend reversal is observed: geoid lows are observed over ridges and geoid highs over old oceans; trenches give the same geoid amplitude than old oceans. Clearly this denotes a degree-2 convection pattern connected to plate tectonics. In addition it is shown that the minimum and maximum inertia axes of the surface distribution of young oceans, and independently of old oceans and trenches, coincide with the Earth's equatorial inertia axes (74°E and 164°E), i.e., with the equatorial extremes of the degree-2 geoid.Plate tectonics is uncorrelated with the polar anomaly of the degree-2 geoid, namely the flattening which is not accounted for by Earth rotation. A north-south axisymmetric convection with a degree-2 pattern is proposed to explain this extra flattening; this model is supported by the latitude dependence of the depth of oceanic ridges.     

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.     

Response of soil media due to impulse loads and isolation using trenches

This paper examines the effectiveness of open and filled trenches for screening Rayleigh waves due to impulse loads for 3D problems. The effects of the geometric parameters of trench reducing ground displacements are studied in detail. The computational scheme involves the use of finite element method to discretize a large computational domain and the resulting integration dynamic equilibrium equations are integrated to get the response using Newmark's β method. Soil has been idealized as linear, isotropic continuum.     

Numerical prediction of ground vibrations induced by high-speed trains including wheel–rail–soil coupled effects

A simplified analytical model including the coupled effects of the wheel–rail–soil system and geometric irregularities of the track is proposed for evaluation of the moving train load. The wheel–rail–soil system is simulated as a series of moving point loads on an Euler–Bernoulli beam resting on a visco-elastic half-space, and the wave-number transform is adopted to derive the 2.5D finite element formulation. The numerical model is validated by published data in the literature. Numerical predictions of ground vibrations by using the proposed method are conducted at a site on the Qin-Shen Line in China.     

近场强地震动模拟中对破裂的方向性效应和上盘效应的表达.

为了模拟近场强地震动，采用了基于有限断层模型的一种随机合成方法．震源破裂面被剖分成一定数量的子源，总的地震矩分成数量更多的子震的矩．一给定子源中一次子震引起的场地地震动的傅氏谱，通过考虑点源的谱、随着距离的衰减、能量耗散及近地表效应等导出．据此幅值谱和一个随机相位谱，并与一个时程包络函数结合，合成一个子震时程．将各子源中各个子震引起的所有时程叠加，得出场地的地震动时程．叠加中，各子震时程之间的时滞，据子震发震时差和子源至场地的距离差别引起的时差确定．对一个设定地震，选用4个断层面倾角，计算了近场21个地点的地震动．结果表明，本文方法可以很好地表达破裂的方向性效应和上盘效应．为了验证方法的可靠性，对1994年美国北岭地震中3个近断层台站MCN，LV3和PCD模拟的地震动与实际记录的加速度反应谱和时程作了比较．      

某高精密设备平台基础隔振措施分析

结合某高精密设备平台基础隔振实际工程,基于UPFs(User Programmable Features)二次开发特点,提出考虑基础-地基-基础动力相互作用计算基础隔振分析的三维有限元方法。该方法首先将动力机器、周围地基以及高精密设备平台基础作为完整的研究对象,通过引入三维紧支黏弹性边界单元模拟半无限地基辐射阻尼效应和远场介质的弹性恢复性能,并在通用有限元软件ANSYS中实现。进而基于最小二乘方法回归分析得到振动衰减关系曲线,通过其与数值分析结果的对比验证计算模型的合理性。最后针对此工程场地条件建立隔振沟减振隔振措施的有限元模型,并对隔振沟影响因素的减振效果进行分析。计算结果表明,隔振沟的位置、深度以及长度是实际工程中需要考虑的重要因素,对其进行合理的选取可获得较好的隔振效果。     

Rupture directivity and hanging wall effect in near field strong ground motion simulation

A random synthesis procedure based on finite fault model is adopted for near field strong ground motion simulation in this paper.The fault plane of the source is divided into a number of sub-sources,the whole moment magnitude is also divided into more sub-events.The Fourier spectrum of ground motion caused by a sub-event in given sub-source,then can be derived by means of taking the point source spectrum,attenuation with distance,energy dissipation,and near surface effect,into account.A time history is synthesized from this amplitude spectrum and a random phase spectrum,and being combined with an envelope function.The ground motion is worked out by superposition of all time histories from each sub-event in each sub-source,with time lags determining by the differences between the triggering times of sub-events and ddistances of the sub-sources.From the example of simulations at 21 near field points in a scenario earthquake with 4 dip angles of the fault plane,it is illustrated that the procedure can describe the rupture directivity and hanging wall effect very well.To validate the procedure,the response spectra and time histories recorded at three near fault stations MCN,LV3 and PCD during the Northridge earthquake in 1994,are compared with the simulated ones.     

Identification of modal parameters of non‐classically damped linear structures under multi‐component earthquake loading

A method for parametric system identification of classically damped linear system in frequency domain is adopted and extended for non‐classically damped linear systems subjected up to six components of earthquake ground motions. This method is able to work in multi‐input/multi‐output (MIMO) case. The response of a two‐degree‐of‐freedom model with non‐classical damping, excited by one‐component earthquake ground motion, is simulated and used to verify the proposed system identification method in the single‐input/multi‐output case. Also, the records of a 10 storey real building during the Northridge earthquake is used to verify the proposed system identification method in the MIMO case. In this case, at first, a single‐input/multi‐output assumption is considered for the system and modal parameters are identified, then other components of earthquake ground motions are added, respectively, and the modal parameters are identified again. This procedure is repeated until all four components of earthquake ground motions which are measured at the base level of the building are included in the identification process. The results of identification of real building show that consideration of non‐classical damping and inclusion of the multi‐components effect of earthquake ground motions can improve the least‐squares match between the finite Fourier transforms of recorded and calculated acceleration responses. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic interaction of bridge–train system under non‐uniform seismic ground motion

The probability that an earthquake occurs when a train is running over a bridge in earthquake‐prone regions is much higher than before, for high‐speed railway lines are rapidly developed to connect major cities worldwide. This paper presents a finite element method‐based framework for dynamic analysis of coupled bridge–train systems under non‐uniform seismic ground motion, in which rail–wheel interactions and possible separations between wheels and rails are taken into consideration. The governing equations of motion of the coupled bridge–train system are established in an absolute coordinate system. Without considering the decomposition of seismic responses into pseudo‐static and inertia‐dynamic components, the equations of motion of the coupled system are formed in terms of displacement seismic ground motions. The mode superposition method is applied to the bridge structure to make the problem manageable while the Newmark‐β method with an iterative computation scheme is used to find the best solution for the problem concerned. Eight high‐speed trains running over a multi‐span steel truss‐arch bridge subject to earthquakes are taken as a case study. The results from the case study demonstrate that the spatial variation of seismic ground motion affects dynamic responses of the bridge–train system. The ignorance of pseudo‐static component when using acceleration seismic ground motions as input may underestimate seismic responses of the bridge–train system. The probability of separation between wheels and rails becomes higher with increasing train speed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SV波入射情况下V型河谷地形对地震动的影响分析

基于局部人工边界的显式有限元方法,给出了二维V型河谷地形在SV波垂直人射下地面运动数值解,并分析其地震动分布规律以及两侧不同的边坡角度对于地震动分布规律的影响.数值结果表明:谷底的角点、两岸靠近河谷的点、两侧谷坡靠近谷底的点以及靠近两岸的点,对地表位移有放大作用,而对其邻近区域地表位移有抑制作用.这是由于角点处存在面的...     

Fracturing and Displacement Types of Active Faults in Unconsolidated Accumulative Materials and Their Implication for Timing Palaeoseismic Rupture Events

Seismic rupture produced by active faulting causes ground surface fracturing and seriously damages buildings.However,the fracture traces are usually indistinct or non-visible because of complicated deformations in Quaternary unconsolidated materials,so their upper parts can hardly be discovered on exploratory trenches.The aim of this paper is to study the types of fault rupture and displacement in different loose deposit beds from a joint view of mega-,meso-,and microscopic scales,and to find the mark and method for timing the palaeoseismic rupture on exploratory trenches.     

Development of seismic fragility surfaces for reinforced concrete buildings by means of nonlinear time‐history analysis

Fragility curves are generally developed using a single parameter to relate the level of shaking to the expected structural damage. The main goal of this work is to use several parameters to characterize the earthquake ground motion. The fragility curves will, therefore, become surfaces when the ground motion is represented by two parameters. To this end, the roles of various strong‐motion parameters on the induced damage in the structure are compared through nonlinear time‐history numerical calculations. A robust structural model that can be used to perform numerous nonlinear dynamic calculations, with an acceptable cost, is adopted. The developed model is based on the use of structural elements with concentrated nonlinear damage mechanics and plasticity‐type behavior. The relations between numerous ground‐motion parameters, characterizing different aspects of the shaking, and the computed damage are analyzed and discussed. Natural and synthetic accelerograms were chosen/computed based on a consideration of the magnitude‐distance ranges of design earthquakes. A complete methodology for building fragility surfaces based on the damage calculation through nonlinear numerical analysis of multi‐degree‐of‐freedom systems is proposed. The fragility surfaces are built to represent the probability that a given damage level is reached (or exceeded) for any given level of ground motion characterized by the two chosen parameters. The results show that an increase from one to two ground‐motion parameters leads to a significant reduction in the scatter in the fragility analysis and allows the uncertainties related to the effect of the second ground‐motion parameter to be accounted for within risk assessments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fragility functions of blockwork wharves using artificial neural networks

The use of artificial neural networks in the general framework of a performance-based seismic vulnerability evaluation for earth retaining structures is presented. A blockwork wharf-foundation-backfill complex is modeled with advanced nonlinear 2D finite difference software, wherein liquefaction occurrence is explicitly accounted for. A simulation algorithm is adopted to sample geotechnical input parameters according to their statistical distribution, and extensive time histories analyses are then performed for several earthquake intensity levels. In the process, the seismic input is also considered as a random variable. A large dataset of virtual realizations of the behavior of different configurations under recorded ground motions is thus obtained, and an artificial neural network is implemented in order to find the unknown nonlinear relationships between seismic and geotechnical input data versus the expected performance of the facility. After this process, fragility curves are systematically derived by applying Monte Carlo simulation on the obtained correlations. The novel fragility functions herein proposed for blockwork wharves take into account different geometries, liquefaction occurrence and type of failure mechanism. Results confirm that the detrimental effects of liquefaction increase the probability of failure at all damage states. Moreover, it is also demonstrated that increasing the base width/height ratio results in higher failure probabilities for the horizontal sliding than for the tilting towards the sea.     

Coupling of boundary and finite elements for soil-structure interaction problems

The investigation of complex soil-structure interaction problems is usually carried out with numerical solution procedures such as the finite element or the boundary element method. It must be noted, however, that the choice of one or the other of these approaches is not just a matter of preferences; depending on the type of the problem under consideration, either boundary or finite elements may be more advantageous. A considerable expansion in the computational power can be obtained, on the other hand, if one resorts to hybrid schemes which retain the main advantages of the two methods and eliminate their respective disadvantages. This paper presents results obtained with a boundary element-finite element coupling procedure, and discusses its applicability to some representative soil-structure interaction problems. The structures considered are elastic systems, such as foundations, tunnels and filled trenches (modelled by finite elements), which are coupled with homogeneous elastic halfspaces (modelled by boundary elements). The examples demonstrate the importance of using a model that includes wave radiation effects. The coupling approach is formulated entirely in the time domain so that an extension of the algorithm to non-linear analyses seems to present no further difficulties.     

Migration of Chlorophenolic Compounds at the Chemical Waste Disposal Site at Alkali Lake, Oregon —1. Site Description and Ground-Water Flow

The hydrogeology of the chemical waste disposal site in the closed basin at Alkali Lake, Oregon has been examined. Interest in the site is due to the burial (November 1976) of 25,000 drums of herbicide manufacturing residues in unlined trenches on the playa of the basin. Included in the wastes were large amounts of chlorophenols and polymeric chlorophenoxyphenols. The flow of the alkaline (pH ∼10) ground water in the site area is driven by: (1) springs which create a mound east of the site; and (2) the sump effect of “West Alkali Lake,” a topographic low to the west of the site. Porosity, bulk mass densities, and grain-size distributions were determined. At one piezometer, the depth to ground water ranged between 0.9 m and 2.2 m. With the bottoms of the trenches in which the chemicals were buried between 0.60 and 0.75 m below the level of the ground surface, the bottom portions of the trenches may, at least occasionally, be in direct contact with the ground water.     

正倾滑活动断裂垂直位移定量研究中相关问题的讨论

当探槽开挖长度未跨过断层变形带时，得到的断层垂直位移将偏离断层活动的真实情况，在缺少依据帮助确定断层陡坎原始下坡角的具体位置时，通过断层陡坎高度获得的断层垂直位移也将与实际情况有较大的偏离，文中对此进行了讨论。并讨论了应用断层两侧近水平地层累积变位量的分解确定古地震事件期次的方法，以及探槽剖面中断层两侧同层地层厚度差异是断层活动事件的反映等问题。引用了内蒙古大青山山前断裂和狼山山前断裂、北京平原夏垫断裂和南口－孙河断裂及日本丹那断层探槽开挖的实例。     

Investigations into critical earthquake load models within deterministic and probabilistic frameworks

This paper deals with the determination of critical earthquake load models for linear structures subjected to single‐point seismic inputs. The primary objective of this study is to examine the realism in critical excitations and critical responses vis a vis the framework adopted for the study and constraints that these excitations are taken to satisfy. Two alternative approaches are investigated. In the first approach, the critical earthquake is expressed in terms of a Fourier series that is modulated by an enveloping function that imparts transient nature to the inputs. The Fourier coefficients are taken to be deterministic and are constrained to satisfy specified upper and lower bounds. Estimates on these bounds, for a given site, are obtained by analysing past earthquake records from the same site or similar sites. The unknown Fourier coefficients are determined such that the response of a given structure is maximized subjected to these bounds and additional constraints on intensity, peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity and peak ground displacement. In the second approach, the critical earthquake is modelled as a partially specified non‐stationary Gaussian random process which is defined in terms of a stationary random process of unknown power spectral density (psd) function modulated by a deterministic envelope function. The input is constrained to possess specified variance and average zero crossing rate. Additionally, a new constraint in terms of entropy rate representing the expected level of disorder in the excitation is also imposed. The unknown psd function of the stationary part of the input is determined so that the response of a given structure is maximized. The optimization problem in both these approaches is solved by using sequential quadratic programming method. The procedures developed are illustrated by considering the seismic response of a tall chimney and an earth dam. It is concluded that the imposition of lower and upper bounds on Fourier coefficients in the first approach and constraints on amount of disorder in the second approach are crucial in arriving at realistic critical excitations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Far-field analysis of effects of unilateral rupturing fault on the space correlation of strong ground motion

IntroductionThe data of strong motion arrays indicate that the variation of strong motion is intensive within several kilometers. The effect of this kind of variation to long-span or extended structure is very large and has attracted the attention of scientists of earthquake engineering for a long time (FENG, HU, 1981; Abrahamson, et al, 1987, 1991; Abrahamson, 1992; Yamazaki, Turke, 1992). It is well-known that temporal and spatial variation of ground strong motion is generally affected b…