On a Sensor Placement Methodology for Monitoring the Vibrations of Horizontally Excited Ground

In this paper, the problem of optimal sensor arrangement during vibration monitoring is analysed. The wave propagation caused by horizontal excitation is investigated to predict the areas of the largest ground and structure response. The equations of motion for a transversally isotropic elastic medium with appropriate absorbing boundary conditions are solved using the finite element method (FlexPDE software). The possibility of an amplified soil medium response is examined for points located on the ground surface and at various depths. The results are presented in the form of a dimensionless vibration reduction factor, defined as the ratio of the peak particle velocity observed at the selected depth to the corresponding value observed at the ground surface. Significant amplifications (≈50%) can be observed below the ground surface, especially in the case of a weak layer below a stiff layer. The effect of vibration amplification is most significant near the boundary surface of two layers. For the points located on the ground surface, the greatest peak particle velocities are observed in the direction perpendicular to the load direction. However, the greatest vertical velocity component at the ground surface is observed in front of the applied force.