Prediction of Ground and Building Vibrations Induced by High-speed Trains using a 3D Coupled Numerical Model Based on a Spectral Element Analysis Code

Controlling the train-induced vibrations of environmental infrastructures, especially the buildings along the high-speed railway, has become an essential demand and hard challenge. In attempts to accurately predict the dynamic responses of ground and buildings adjacent to the railway, based on an existing well-characterized in-situ model test in Portugal, the corresponding numerical validation under moving axle loads is conducted by the spectral element numerical code SPEED, developed at Politecnico di Milano, where a fully coupled 3D model including both the ground and the building is considered. The track structure parameters of beam on elastic foundation (BOEF) are obtained by calibrating iteratively the analytical dynamic acceptance curve according to the experimental ones. Sweep frequency response analysis is used to determine the material properties of the building and footings. Under the excitations of 219 km/h moving trains, the recorded dynamic vertical response of nearby ground and the building slab center is compared with the numerical one. The accuracy of results is discussed with specific attention to the frequency range that dominates the dynamic response of the building.