3D FEM and MBS Coupling of Railroad Dynamics with Vibration of Surrounding Building Structures

With the advent of faster trains and changing railway technology, ensuring passenger safety and comfort has become an important area of research in the rail industry. The abatement of vibrations is also important and must be evaluated for new technologies. This research uses the coupling of nite element modeling and multibody dynamics to model a three-dimensional track system including rail, sleepers, ballast, substructure, and a nearby building. After conducting an initial modal analysis of the rail and sub-structure, we run a multibody simulation of a passing train to determine modal displacements and contact forces. We then reconstruct the full displacement eld in a nite element software package and quantify the vibrations on the building. The ultimate goal is to quantify the vibrations in the building structure and understand the discomfort of the occupants.