Structure Isolation in Order to Reduce Vibration Transfer from the Subsoil

Vibrations caused by road or railway vehicles running on surface or underground roads or rail tracks spread through the subsoil into surrounding building structures. These vibrations usually pose no threat to the safety of the structures, but they may limit the use of devices sensitive to vibrations in the buildings. An elastic foundation for the whole structure on a compliant rubber layer inserted into the foundation structure is a solution that restricts the transfer of vibrations into the buildings. The reinforced concrete structure of a building is used as an example here to illustrate the efficiency of using a rubber layer in the footing bottom in order to reduce the propagation of vibrations into the building below the level observed in a non-isolated building structure when loaded by vibrations induced by traffic.