Comparison of FEA and SEA methods for predicting railway-induced vibration propagation through over-station developments

The design process for Over-Station Developments (OSDs) includes consideration of the potential impacts of railway-induced vibrations to ensure that structure-borne noise and occupant comfort standards are maintained during railway operations. Should an OSD be identified as sensitive to railway operational structure-borne noise or vibration impacts, the inclusion of adequate track vibration isolation measures becomes essential for mitigation. This paper presents a comparative study of two methodologies for predicting vibration propagation through structures and consequent structure-borne noise levels—Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA). Specifically, this study provides an indication of the range of predicted results and emphasizes the computational efficiency and scalability of these methods when determining track isolation requirements for structures.