Experimental study on the characteristics of train-induced vibration in a new structure of metro depot

Abstract

In order to improve the utilization rate of expensive and very limited urban land, a new structure system, underground metro depot, has been developed and applied in several cities in China. The underground metro depot, which is built underground, can be multiple stories, and allows other developments on top, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Since there are other developments on top, the vibration induced by the trains frequently entering and exiting the depot cannot be ignored. To better understand the characteristics of the train-induced vibration in the underground metro depot, a series of field tests were conducted on a two-story underground depot which is the largest underground metro depot in Asia. The results show that the main frequency components of vibration source are between 50 and 200 Hz and the level of that in the first floor underground is larger than that in the second floor underground due to the train floor structure interaction when the train running on the first floor underground. The vibration in the top platform decreases linearly with the distance from the measuring point to the center line of the track. When the train is running on the track at the edge area, the linear attenuation rate was about 0.2dB/m. It is easy to excite the vibration mode of the floor structure when the train is running on the first floor underground, so the vibration in the top platform induced by the train running on the first floor underground was much larger than the train running on the second floor underground. In the future design, if the underground depot has more than one floor, the structural dynamic behavior of over-track buildings induced by the train running on the floor slab underground should be the focus. The throat area has many rail joints and turnouts which can lead to a larger vibration level, the level easy to exceed the limit given for human vibration comfort. If developments are proposed on top of the throat area, the vibration level should be carefully checked in the area within 30 m from the track to avoid potential later vibration problem.

Keywords: Field measurement; Over-track building; Train-induced vibration; Underground metro depot; Vibration comfort level evaluation’; Vibration transmission.