Non-linear 2-D FE modeling for prediction of screening performance of thin-walled trench barriers in mitigation of train-induced ground vibrations

The installation of the trench-type barriers can be commonly used in civil engineering applications for isolation of the foundations and structures from the soft ground transmitted vibrations induced by high-speed surface railway traffic. The aim of this study is to primarily deal with the numerical modeling and computation of the structural response to train-induced ground-borne vibrations. This paper concentrates on the non-linear 2-D finite element model that fully takes into account the effect of local plastic deformation of the soil behavior on the dynamic response of vibrating coupled soil–structure system. Elementary viscous artificial boundaries simulating the process of wave transmission along the truncated interface of the semi-infinite space are implemented in the time domain along with Newmark’s integration. This computational model combined with simulation of the passing train load considers completely the dynamic soil–structure interaction and directly predicts the mitigation effect on the structural vibrations of the thin-walled isolation measures. Comprehensive parametric investigations for both passive and active screen cases have been accomplished to reveal the influence of its infill material on the isolation efficiency. The respective response spectra of the calculated ground surface motions produced under different train speeds are presented before and after construction of an isolation barrier. The important findings in engineering practice are outlined.

► Train induced wave propagation problem with SSI effects is analyzed.
► FE model accounts for plastic deformations of the soil under MC failure criterion.
► The shielding performance of open/in-filled trench barrier is examined in terms of the impedance ratio.
► Velocity response spectra of the soil surfaces for active and passive cases are compared to the criteria in DIN 4150.