TRENCH ISOLATION SYSTEM FOR SCREENING OF VIBRATION COMING FROM TRAIN LOAD TO A BUILDING
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Date
2026
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National Institute of Technology, Silchar
Abstract
Railway induced ground vibration has become an important issue due to the increasing movement of trains near residential and commercial structures. Vibrations generated from train movement propagate through the soil and may affect nearby buildings, foundations, and occupants. Continuous exposure to vibration can lead to discomfort, reduction in serviceability, and possible structural problems. The present study investigates the effectiveness of trench isolation systems for reducing railway induced ground vibration using finite element modelling in ABAQUS. Field investigation and laboratory testing were carried out to determine the engineering properties of the soil. Soil parameters required for numerical analysis were obtained from Standard Penetration Test (SPT), laboratory tests, and empirical correlations. Field vibration measurements were also conducted using a geophone during train passage to study the actual vibration response near the railway track. These measurements were used to understand the vibration characteristics and compare them with the numerical response obtained from the finite element model.
Dynamic implicit analysis was performed in ABAQUS to study the propagation of vibration through soil under train induced loading. Infinite boundary elements were used to minimize artificial reflection of stress waves at the model boundaries. Different trench configurations including single open trench, double open trench, and infilled trench systems with varying trench depths and widths were analyzed. The effectiveness of the trench systems was evaluated in terms of displacement, velocity, acceleration, and Amplitude Reduction Factor (ARF). The results indicate that trench geometry has a significant influence on vibration attenuation behavior. Increase in trench depth and width generally improved vibration reduction performance. Double trench systems showed comparatively better vibration isolation than single trench systems, while infilled trenches also demonstrated noticeable reduction in vibration response under certain conditions.