Application of finite elements method in the design of road located in the densely built - up residential area

Nowadays, many of the designed roads are located through the densely built-up residential areas, and even the areas where there are historic buildings. Therefore, already at the stage of preliminary road design one should take into account the effects of vibration wave propagation caused by movement of vehicles on buildings located in the immediate vicinity of designed road. One of the methods that can be used to determine the dynamic effects of designed road for residential buildings is the finite element method. This paper presents an application of the finite element method for the estimation of the dynamic interaction of designed road located in the centre of a major city in the nearby residential buildings. Finite element method was used to model the land and buildings located near the designed road. In the process of land modelling the geological studies of ground and measurements of soil vibrations caused by the vibratory road roller rides conducted by the authors were used. Thus, it was possible to tune the developed finite element model. Proposed in this paper method of analysis of ground vibrations reduce the time needed to design a vibration isolating elements that will protect people and buildings from the destructive effects of vibration caused by vehicles movement the designed road. The work was carried out in a research project 4875/B/TO2/2010/38 financed by Ministry of Science and Higher Education.