Beker, M GVan Den Brand, J.Hennes, E.Rabeling, David2015-12-13June 21-26http://hdl.handle.net/1885/72696Gravity gradient noise generated by seismic displacements constitute a limiting factor for the sensitivity of ground based gravitational wave detectors at frequencies below 10 Hz. We present a finite element framework to calculate the soil response to various excitations. The accompanying gravity gradients as a result of the seismic displacement field can then be evaluated. The framework is first shown to accurately model seismic waves in homogenous media. Calculations of the gravity gradient noise are then shown to be in agreement with previous analytical results. Finally results of gravity gradient noise from a single pulse excitation of a homogenous medium are discussed.Keywords: Analytical results; Finite Element; Finite element analysis; Gravitational wave detectors; Gravity gradients; Ground based; Limiting factors; Seismic displacement; Single-pulse excitations; Soil response; Time domain; Finite element method; Gravitational201010.1088/1742-6596/228/1/0120342016-02-24