Evaluation of seismic effect of traffic-induced vibrations

Abstract

Vibrations caused by moving vehicles are necessary to take into account if roads are situated in populated areas. The vibration of ground induced by moving vehicles is a complicated problem. Values of induced vibrations depend on several parameters, i.e. the parameters of vehicles, quality of roads or railroad tracks, and subsurface geological patterns. It is possible to derive initial information about the vibration effect from experimental measurements. Four individual phases are usually studied in the surroundings of roads or railroads: generation of vibrations, propagation of seismic waves through soils, influence of vibrations on the nearest structures, and a reduction of vibrations using wave barriers. This paper presents a methodology of seismological measurements in the surroundings of the road or railway and a detailed interpretation of digital data from seismological viewpoint. Frequency range of seismic channel was 2 – 200 Hz, so that the detailed interpretation may be performed in the time-frequency domain. Relations between the distance and maximum amplitude of vibration velocity were compiled. The relations are relatively complicated, especially in the distance of more than 7 – 10 m. We suppose that described effect is induced by local surface and subsurface geological pattern.