Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Study of Chicago Homes: A Case Study from Englewood
Team Members Heading link
- Yu Dong
- Caitlin Koziel
- Nalin Naranjo
- Tanja Rakovic
- Chenxi Xu
Advisors: Dr. Didem Ozevin; Dr. Craig Foster; Joseph DeFrenza
Project Description Heading link
For years, Englewood residents have been struggling to maintain the structural integrity of their homes. This study determines how that structural integrity is impacted by settlement, flooding, aging infrastructure, and vibrations caused by cargo disembarkment at the CSX Intermodal 59th Street Yard. Residents’ quality of life is revealed by analyzing discomforts that come with noise pollution and lower magnitude vibrations. Residents claim that cargo disembarkment from trains causes excessive vibrations, which contribute to structural damage and exacerbate flooding issues.
To investigate these claims, this study analyzes vibration and thermal data from a participating Englewood home, as well as soil and weather data from the area. While general studies have explored the impact of vibrations from passing trains or mine blasts on structures, there has not been a study that determines cargo disembarkment’s impact on nearby structures. The Englewood study is unique as it analyzes the effects of vibrations caused by freight rail yard activities and how they contribute to structural damage to the common Chicago Worker Cottage.
In order to confirm that vibrations are significantly impacting home structures, vibrations must exceed a PPV of 0.1 in/sec. To combat structural damage and discomfort, mitigation designs were developed. Using SAP and ANSYS models, the impact of settlement, potentially the main source of structural damage, is evaluated. Appropriate design solutions include modifying the structure’s vibration characteristics by strengthening the slab, columns and foundation, minimizing water intrusion in susceptible areas identified by an infrared camera and comparing stresses due to support settlement for wood column and masonry wall structural systems. The mitigation strategy is implemented into the finite element models to demonstrate how structural damage and vibration levels can be reduced. These potential solutions can later be supported by additional measurements and implemented into residents’ homes, thus improving their quality of life.