Full-scale experimental study on screening effectiveness of SRM-filled trench barriers

Vibration induced by different sources can be seriously harmful to structures and occupants and their isolation has gained importance during recent years with rapid urbanisation. Trench barriers (open or filled) have been used for isolating such unwanted vibrations, but few experimental studies have investigated the effects of different parameters on vibration reduction. This paper provides results of a series of full-scale field experiments conducted to investigate the effect of open and filled trenches on vibration screening. A sand–rubber mixture (SRM) was used to fill the trench as a lightweight, high-energy-absorbing and environmentally friendly material. Results confirmed that the SRM-filled trench can be used as an efficient, low-cost and easily constructed system for reducing ground vibration. In some cases, the performance level of SRM-filled trenches was close to that of open ones. The use of geophones that could record vibrations in three dimensions demonstrated that trench barriers can isolate vertical vibrations better than horizontal and transversal ones.