Evaluation of Train-induced Vibrations in Medium-to-High Speed Railways: A Parametric Study

Xiao Guo ¹ Decang Tian ¹ Jinglin Sun ¹ Dongfeng Zhang ¹ Yahang Liu ¹ Jinfeng Zhang ^2,3*

• ¹ China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
• ² National Engineering Research Center of High-speed Railway Construction Technology, Changsha, China
• ³ School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong Province, China

Over the past two decades, China has witnessed remarkable advancements in rail transportation systems, encompassing municipal railways, intercity networks, and high-speed rail infrastructure. Nevertheless, the environmental implications of train-induced vibrations have emerged as a critical concern among engineers and scholars. This paper carries out a study on the prediction and evaluation of environmental vibration medium-to-high speed railways (120-250 km/h operation), utilizing a validated finite element model calibrated with field measurements. The critical distances to railway line were determined, at which the train-induced noise is reduced to acceptable levels in sound-sensitive areas, such as residential zones. This study specifically conducted an assessment of the vibrations experienced by various railway structures (subgrade, viaduct, and tunnel) at varying train speeds. The findings indicate that the traditional empirical formula cannot accurately predict the critical distance. Moreover, approximately 1000 working conditions were calculated and a massive data analysis database was then established, which provides guidance for the railway location design, the avoidance of sound-sensitive locations, and the mitigation of track vibration and noise.