Ground vibrations from road vehicles travelling over flexible speed bumps

Abstract

Generation of ground vibrations by road vehicles travelling along streets with installed flexible speed bumps is considered theoretically. Amplitudes of generated ground vibrations are calculated as functions of bump geometry and elastic properties, as well as vehicle parameters, including vehicle speed. Comparison is being made with the case of traditional rigid speed bumps. It is shown that, as expected, the effect of flexibility may cause some reduction in generated ground vibrations (in comparison with rigid bumps of the same shape and dimensions). However, for typical elastic parameters of flexible speed bumps, this reduction is not large enough to make a noticeable impact on the environment.