Investigating the effect of under sleeper pads and ballast mats in attenuation of train induced ground vibrations

Abstract

First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my principal supervisor, Dr. H.G.H. Damruwan, from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, for his steadfast guidance, encouragement, and insightful mentorship throughout this research. His expertise, patience, and unwavering support have been pivotal in shaping the direction and quality of this thesis. I also wish to sincerely thank my co-supervisor, Prof. C. S. Lewangamage, for providing valuable guidance on various aspects throughout this study. I am grateful to the technical officer and supporting staff at Structural Dynamics and Health Monitoring Lav for their assistance during the field studies. I also wish to sincerely thank the Progress Review Committee, especially Dr. Lakshitha Fernando, for his critical feedback, thoughtful suggestions, and consistent support, which helped to enhance the depth and clarity of this work. I am also thankful to the academic staff of the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, including Prof. H.R. Pasindu, the MSc Research Coordinator, and especially the academic staff members of the Structural Division, for their continued academic guidance and encouragement throughout the MSc program. To my fellow researchers and colleagues, thank you for your collaboration, encouragement, and knowledge-sharing that enriched this journey and made it a truly collective effort. Finally, I am deeply grateful to my family and friends for their constant motivation, patience, and unwavering belief in me. Their love and emotional strength carried me through every challenge I faced along this path.