Vibrations

Buildings may be exposed to vibrations due to traffic, construction work, machinery and the like. These vibrations can cause damage to the building. Vibration measurements and finding out the cause of vibration damage require specialist knowledge.

SBR Vibration guideline A: Damage to structures 2017 (2018)

This publication deals with how to carry out vibration measurements on structures and how to process and assess the results of vibration measurements. It provides procedures for measuring vibrations, processing the measurement results and assessing the impact of vibrations in view of possible damage to the structure.

Styrofoam as a vibration damper (2014)

Graduate study on vibration measurements during construction work. The researcher did not think from the point of view of the person causing the vibrations, but from the point of view of the receiver. A subsequent article - Styrofoam as a vibration damper - appeared in Trade magazine Geotechnics.

Air-suspended trucks for ground transport (2014)

Research by engineering consultancy LBP|SIGHT shows that air-suspended trucks with trailers reduce vibration nuisance and damage during ground transport. In a redevelopment project in Nieuwkoop, the peat soil hardly moved during soil transport by trucks with trailers.

Styrofoam against vibration nuisance (2012)

Gemeentewerken Rotterdam concludes, based on a laboratory and practical study, that simple sheets of Styrofoam in the ground stop up to eighty per cent of annoying vibrations caused by traffic or construction activities. According to the engineering firm, the invention can eliminate annoyance to residents and damage to buildings. To install the EPS polystyrene foam, a trench is dug along the façade to the bottom of the foundation, some eighty to one hundred centimetres below ground level. The sheets are placed loose against the foundation, after which the trench is sealed. A major advantage of EPS is that the material retains its damping effect for its entire lifespan, forty to fifty years. The costs of installation are comparable to the costs of measuring and monitoring vibrations.
Arnold Koopman, researcher into vibration nuisance at TNO, placed some question marks and comments on the study, which can be read on the website of Geluidnieuws. In any case, the municipality of Rotterdam is very pleased with the study and has ordered the application of the Styrofoam sheets in three new construction projects. A research report by Gemeentewerken Rotterdam has not yet been published online.

Limiting vibration nuisance near the tracks (2011)

As a result of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment's High-Frequency Rail Transport Programme (PHS), the frequency of both passenger and freight transport will increase and goods trains will start running on other routes. Nevertheless, the quality of life around the tracks must be maintained. Therefore, on ProRail's initiative, the COB committee T130 was set up to look for applicable measures to reduce vibration nuisance near the tracks.

The report'Vibration nuisance from rail infrastructure operation' discusses the committee's 2011 research proposal for additional research and developments that can reduce vibration nuisance. There are five main sections:

1. Clarity regarding procedures to be followed
2. Tightening of regulations in vibration assessment
3. Improving vibration diagnosis; with three sub-proposals
4. Preparation of a validated catalogue of measures
5. Input of non-vibration factors from the gamma sciences

Delft Cluster: Reliable vibration measure (2009)

Extensive research on the reliability of vibration predictions has provided insights on model reliability, uncertainty of input parameters, the role of the modeller and the stochastics of practice.

CONVURT (CONtrol of Vibrations from Underground Rail Traffic, 2003)

The CONVURT project was set up in the EU's Fifth Framework Programme focusing on the propagation of vibrations through the ground. The three-year project started in 2000, with the aim of investigating, predicting and reducing vibrations caused by metro trains. This was done using computer modelling and prototype innovations. The final reports can also be found on the project website.