Abstract: In the present work, a numerical study is presented to solve the problem of ambient vibration isolation using piles as wave barriers. Based on the periodic theory of solid-state physics and finite element method, the attenuation zones of rows of pile barriers are studied. The governing equations and boundary conditions are formulated as coefficient forms of partial differential equations (PDE), and solved by the aid of COMSOL PDE interface. First, the influences of some related parameters, such as physical parameters of soils and pile configurations on the attenuation zone are thoroughly discussed. Second, a periodic pile-soil system accounting for a practical ambient vibration is designed and the isolation effectiveness is numerically simulated both in frequency domain and in time domain. Results indicate that the periodic theory can be used to reveal the dynamic performances of pile barriers, which opens a new window for the application of pile barriers in ambient vibration attenuation; the equation-based modelling COMSOL PDE method can be used not only to calculate the attention zone of periodic structures, but also to analyze the responses of finite periodic structures both in frequency domain and in time domain.

Key words: periodic pile barriers, COMSOL PDE, attenuation zone, ambient vibration attenuation