Three-dimensional analysis of rows of piles as passive barriers for ground vibration isolation

This paper presents a theoretical study on the ground vibration isolation efficiency by multi-rows of piles as passive barrier in a three-dimensional context. Integral equations governing Rayleigh wave scattering are derived according to the Green's solution of Lamb problem. The integral equations are solved accurately and efficiently with an iteration technique. They are used to predict the complicated Rayleigh wave field that is generated by a number of irregular scatterers embedded in an elastic half-space solid. The method is verified with a numerical solution available in the literature for a simplified Rayleigh wave scattering problem. Passive isolation effectiveness of ground vibration with two or three rows of small piles is further studied in detail. Effects of relevant parameters on the effectiveness of vibration isolation are analyzed and presented.