Derivation and Application of Analytical Coupling Loss Coefficient by Transfer Function in Soil–Building Vibration

Abstract

Vibrations generated by railways may undergo amplification or reduction while traversing the foundations, floors, and spans of adjacent structures. This fluctuation in the vibration intensity, identified as a building’s coupling loss, is commonly considered in vibration forecasts through the utilization of universal frequency-independent adjustment parameters. This article employs a theoretical analytical approach to investigate the propagation characteristics of Rayleigh waves in elastic foundation soil, as well as the variations at the contact surface of buildings’ foundations. Analytical expressions for the coupling loss coefficient are derived to explore the displacement transfer relationship in the soil–structure interaction. To accurately and efficiently analyze the proposed buildings and site, the entire vibration propagation system is decoupled into substructure systems for independent analytical calculations. Theoretical analytical methods are utilized to obtain the displacement transfer functions between the soil and the structures through the refraction and transmission of waves. From a theoretical perspective, a thorough understanding of the interaction between soil and buildings is achieved. The influence of various variables related to railways and foundations on the building responses is analyzed. By comparing with measured data, the correctness of the analytical form of the coupling loss coefficient is validated, filling a gap in the literature due to the lack of analytical research on displacement transfer losses in soil–structure interactions.