Modeling the influence of structural modifications on the response of a building to railway vibration

In this paper, a 2D BEM / FEM ground-structure vibration interaction model (MEFISSTO software) is used to estimate the influence of building modifications on the response of a building to railway vibration. The results are expressed in terms of vibration level frequency spectra at different locations in the building. However, in order to correctly calibrate the train excitation from measured free field ground vibration levels, and to correctly calibrate the transfer function between free field ground and building, a 2D ½ version of MEFISSTO must be used. The model is first experimentally validated from field measurements of ground and building vibration performed near railway and then used in a parametric study to evaluate the influence of floor thickness and span, as well as the thickness of buried walls and fac¸ades on the building response. Measured railway time signals are finally used to compare the results directly in terms of current vibration exposure descriptors.