ABSTRACT
Population growth and urbanization results in densified urban areas, where new buildings are being built closer to existing vibration sources such as road-, tram- and rail traffic. In addition, new transportation systems are constructed closer to existing buildings. High vibration levels should be considered in planning urban environment and densification of cities. Vibrations can be annoying for humans but also disturbing for sensitive equipment in, for example, hospitals. In determining the risk for excessive vibration levels, the distance between the source and the receiver, the ground properties, and the type and size of the buildings are governing factors. This paper presents a study of the influence of various parameters of a building’s structural design on its vibration levels caused by external ground surface loads. Especially, variations of the slab thickness and the construction material are considered. The parametric studies were conducted by employing an efficient numerical methodology described in the paper. It uses model reduction of a three-dimensional finite element ground model, the reduced soil model being coupled to a building structure of beam and shell finite elements.
