Full scale experimental study on vibration scattering using open and in-filled (GeoFoam) wave barriers

Abstract

Ground vibrations induced by machine foundations can cause unfavourable effects on the nearby buildings ranging from annoyance to structural damage. Most of these vibrations propagate in the form of surface (Rayleigh) waves. Machine foundations produce a steady state vibration, for which, wave barriers can be a successful technique to minimize these effects by scattering the generated steady state surface waves. A full scale field experimental study has been conducted to investigate the protective performance of both open and in-filled trench with GeoFoam material as well as to examine the influences of wall geometry and location from the vibratory source on the isolation efficiency. An innovative approach to construct GeoFoam trench as a wave barrier is proposed in this study as well. The results of the field experimental investigations are analyzed and interpreted to provide recommendations for implementation in design. Experimental results show that both open and GeoFoam barriers can effectively reduce the transmitted waves. The field experimental results have been compared with those obtained from the developed numerical model using a finite element package, ABAQUS.