Ground vibration from dynamic and quasi-static loads moving along a railway track on layered ground

The nature of vibration propagating in the ground, generated by a single moving vertical load acting via a railway track structure, is discussed with the aid of results from a theoretical model. For this purpose an analytical model is used which calculates the response to a quasi-static or dynamic load as a function of propagating wavenumber along and normal to the track. By this means the nature of the vibration can be discussed with recourse to the dispersion characteristics of the waves. Quasi-static and dynamic loads travelling at speeds both below and above the wave speeds in the ground and track are dealt with.