Control of Metro Train-Induced Vibrations in a Laboratory Using Periodic Piles

Laboratories with sensitive instruments need a low-vibration environment. It is a challenge to control the train-induced vibration impact on these instruments when a newly planned metro line is adjacent to a laboratory building. An alternative method of mitigating train-induced ground vibrations involves installing measures along the transmission path. Recent research has highlighted the potential of periodic pile barriers with specifically designed band gaps for controlling environmental vibrations. This study performed in-situ measurements of ambient vibrations inside and outside a laboratory containing various types of sensitive instruments and located adjacent to a newly designed metro line. The vibration transfer function of the laboratory was then obtained. To help design and optimize the band gaps of periodic piles, a novel band gap performance evaluation function was proposed. Finally, numerical analysis was conducted to validate the mitigation effect of the designed periodic piles. The results showed that the band gap performance evaluation function can be used to optimize the mitigation effect of periodic piles. The proposed periodic piles clearly attenuated vibrations between 52.4 and 74.3 Hz, especially those at 63 Hz. A comparison of general vibration criteria (VC) curves revealed that vibration attenuation of one level can be obtained by the designed periodic piles.