Amirkabir University of Technology Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering 2588-297X 56 4 2024 06 21 Investigating on the performance of retrofitted trench with Leca in reducing ground vibrations Investigating on the performance of retrofitted trench with Leca in reducing ground vibrations 477 496 5401 10.22060/ceej.2024.22872.8062 FA Mohsen Naghizadeh Rokni, Department of Civil Engineering, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran Omid Tavasoli Department of Civil Engineering, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-3047-435X Reza Esmaeilabadi Department of Civil Engineering, Rudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rudehen, Iran Amirpouya Sarraf Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran Journal Article 2023 12 18 Environmental vibrations can have a significant impact on noise pollution and the health of the residents of buildings adjacent to the vibration sources. Therefore, the studies conducted in the last two decades on reducing vibrations have attracted a lot of attention from researchers. In this study, the effect of different types of improved trenches with Leca lightweight aggregate, including single and double-walled trenches in both active and passive modes, has been investigated, using the combination of Plexis3D finite element software and Python programming language, and the models with the results of other researches. It has been validated and also, and a parametric study has been done to evaluate the effect of geometrical factors including depth, width, and length for both systems. The obtained results indicate that in order to achieve an acceptable amount of trench efficiency, the depth of 0.8λ_r and 1λ_r is sufficient as the optimal depth for single and wall systems, respectively, and considering the effect of the width of the trench filled with Leca, a width equal to 0.2λ_r and 0.15λ_r is enough to reach the optimal width for single-wall and double-wall systems, respectively. Also, for passive design, the role of depth can be ignored for single and double-walled barriers, because trench width plays a more important role compared to trench depth. Moreover, to achieve an acceptable single-wall system, the normal width should be increased to about 0.2λ_r. Environmental vibrations can have a significant impact on noise pollution and the health of the residents of buildings adjacent to the vibration sources. Therefore, the studies conducted in the last two decades on reducing vibrations have attracted a lot of attention from researchers. In this study, the effect of different types of improved trenches with Leca lightweight aggregate, including single and double-walled trenches in both active and passive modes, has been investigated, using the combination of Plexis3D finite element software and Python programming language, and the models with the results of other researches. It has been validated and also, and a parametric study has been done to evaluate the effect of geometrical factors including depth, width, and length for both systems. The obtained results indicate that in order to achieve an acceptable amount of trench efficiency, the depth of 0.8λ_r and 1λ_r is sufficient as the optimal depth for single and wall systems, respectively, and considering the effect of the width of the trench filled with Leca, a width equal to 0.2λ_r and 0.15λ_r is enough to reach the optimal width for single-wall and double-wall systems, respectively. Also, for passive design, the role of depth can be ignored for single and double-walled barriers, because trench width plays a more important role compared to trench depth. Moreover, to achieve an acceptable single-wall system, the normal width should be increased to about 0.2λ_r. https://ceej.aut.ac.ir/article_5401_3ab6be46e1d6b21d59a3c3a0b9d0f6ef.pdf