Finite element calculations of rail vibration countermeasures

Elastic waves may constitute a nuisance for people living close to high-speed lines. In order to decrease the spread of vibrations, it is common to reinforce the ground with lime cement columns. This article presents the results of simulations of three different ways to install the columns. The calculations have been done with an integrated rigid body—finite element model. Equations from various physical domains are merged into one big system. The results indicate that the straight configuration works best to protect the track. When attention is focused on preventing vibrations from the soil, the leaning column method is more effective. The chosen technique would depend on the aims of the countermeasure.