Finite elements method in analysis of propagation of vibrations wave in the soil

Nowadays, many residential buildings are built in areas close to railway and tram lines. Therefore, there is a necessity to find a method that allows taking into account in the process of building design influences of the vibration caused by passing trains and trams. This article presents analysis of propagation of vibration wave excited by the movement of trams in the soil on which is planned to build multi-storey residential building. To determine the amplitude of vibration the Finite Element Method (FEM) model was used. The FEM model which was used during the analysis takes into account variable heterogeneous mechanical properties of the soil. The analysis uses the results of measurements of vibration acceleration amplitudes done by employees of the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics AGH during the works on government research project 4875/B/TO2/2010/38 and the results of drilling carried out to identify the composition of the soil at the planned place of foundation building. The developed method allows determining the wave vibration in the ground without necessity to perform complex measurements of soil vibration. The proposed method can be successfully applied in the preparation of project documentation for public buildings and reduces the costs of preliminary analysis of the influence of the traffic on the dynamic properties of the newly designed facility.