Prediction of Light Rail Transit Vibrations and Vibration-Reducing Measures

Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a sustainable transport solution. Rail-wheel interaction by LRT generates ground-borne vibration, affecting the buildings near railway tracks, especially in urban areas. This impact must be minimized to avoid any negative impact on the buildings and also on people living and working in the neighborhood. The rolling stock vibration creates waves propagating through the ground and into nearby buildings, generating ground-borne vibration effects. The soil structure interaction under these circumstances is significant for the railway routes that will pass by existing structures, especially those designed for non-dynamic conditions and constructed decades ago and historical buildings. This paper discusses vibration assessment for LRT operations and mitigation requirements for sensitive areas. Different vibration models were assessed for determining the potential vibration impact of LRT on surrounding receivers. The predictions are based on in-situ test measurements. Two different approaches to determine the vibration levels from LRT will be presented. It is concluded that the use of LRT in urban areas can be an effective solution, contributing to sustainable development.