Numerical Analysis of Buried Vibration Protection Devices Using the Method of Fundamental Solutions

Abstract

Buried structures may be used to control elastic wave propagation in soils and help to reduce vibrations in sensitive structures. The analysis of these structures using numerical tools is of high importance and is usually a demanding computational task. In the present work, the authors explore the possibility of using a meshless method for such simulations, namely the method of fundamental solutions (MFS). In many applications, the MFS has proved to be a worthy and more efficient alternative to classic methods, such as the FEM or even the BEM. Here, the authors present a study on the application of the MFS to simulate the propagation of elastic waves in a soil with multiple buried inclusions. Application examples are also presented, in which the vibration reduction provided by different sets of buried inclusions is analysed and discussed.