Design of a ground mitigation system by means of mass network at the ground top surface

For the past decades, railway vibration risk assessment has been a subject of concern especially due to the vicinity between railway infrastructures and buildings which create a source of annoyance for residents. In this context, mitigation system must be developed at different level of propagation. This paper presents a solution for vibrations reduction on the propagation path, the ground. A mass network coupled at the ground surface, inspired by sonic crystals in acoustics, create cut-off band. The influence of these masses' distribution as well as the mass and surface effects of the structures are presented for an ideal reduction. Ground characteristics have a direct effect on the performance of the system characterized by Rayleigh's velocity. This kind of solution is a variant of the vertical and horizontal wave barrier.