STEM
STEM is an open-source calculation model developed to compute the impact of mitigation techniques on railway-induced vibrations.
In STEM the train-track interaction and the propagation of the vibrations through the subsurface are simulated. The model can compute the vibration levels at the ground surface taking into account the presence of irregularities in the track geometry, the type of train and train speed, and the spatial variability of the track and soil properties.
Scope of the STEM model
The STEM model is based on the finite element method and it is powered by Kratos Multiphysics.
Background & prerequisites
STEM is a numerical model based on the finite element method. For more information on the formulation and theory behind the model, see Formulation. It is recommended to have a basic understanding of the Finite Element theory before using STEM. For a more detailed introduction to the finite element method, we recommend the following resources:
STEM is built in Python. It is recommended to have a basic understanding of Python before using STEM. For new users of Python, the following resources are recommended:
Alternatively, you can follow one of the many online free courses, for example (the STEM team is not affiliated to any of these courses):
To use STEM it is convenient to use an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for Python. The STEM team recommends to use PyCharm or Visual Studio Code. More information can be found in the following links:
To visualise the results STEM makes use of ParaView. It is recommended to have a basic understanding of ParaView before using STEM. The following resources are recommended: