Requirements and Challenges for Vibration Prediction Tools and the Associated Validation Processes

One of the aims of the European research project FINE-2 is to contribute to reducing noise and vibrations caused by railway traffic. In this context, FINE-2 supports the development of a prediction tool for vibration caused by rail traffic. The tool is developed by the partner project SILVARSTAR. For this purpose, in the “Ground Vibration” work package (WP 8) of FINE-2, which is led by DB Systemtechnik GmbH, requirements and descriptors for a European vibration tool were specified. The general approach for a prediction tool is based on a decoupled modular calculation model which could be useable for both rough estimations and detailed analysis of train-induced vibrations next to the track and inside buildings. Moreover, a validation concept developed by FINE-2 for evaluation of the prediction tool has been developed. The paper shows a two-step procedure to validate the computational core and the final prediction tool. The validation of the computational core will be mainly based on measured data. Here, a comparison between measured results and the computed data of the prediction tool will be performed. The tool itself is evaluated against the specified requirements and the computation of the descriptors is checked according to the standards.