Experimental study of train-induced vibrations of near-railway buildings

A field experiment was carried out at the Beijing-Guangzhou railway to study the train-induced vibrations of nearby buildings. The train speeds in the experiment were 40-115 km/h for passenger trains and 26-57 km/h for freight trains. The results show that, generally, vibrations of the building floor attenuate with distance to the track and increase with train speed rising. For a six-story building, vibration of each floor increases with the floor elevation. The vertical vibration of the sixth floor is 2-5 dB higher, and the lateral vibration 5-10 dB higher than the ground floor. The vibration at floor center is larger than those at floor corners and staircase. The vibration of outdoor ground is 1-10 dB greater than that indoor. The vibration of buildings near the railway line is serious, which exceeds the allowance given in relevant codes.