Field monitoring of railroad embankment vibration responses in seasonally frozen regions

To investigate the vibration characteristics of a railway subgrade in different seasons, three field experiments were carried out in the seasonally frozen Daqing area of China during spring, smnmer, and winter. The vibration characteristics and attenuation rates of the subgrade induced by passing trains were investigated, and the influences of the season, train speed, train type, train load, and number of train compartments are described in this paper. The results show that： （1） near the rail track the vibration in the vertical direction was more significant than in the lateral and longitudinal directions, and as the distance from the railway track increased, the acceleration amplitudes and the attenuation rates all decreased in all three directions; （2） the acceleration amplitudes and at- tenuation rates decreased in the three different study seasons as the distance from the railway track increased, and the attenuation rates in the freezing period were the largest; and （3） the acceleration amplitude induced by a freight train was greater than that by a passenger train, and the subgrade vibration increased with increasing passenger train speeds when the number of train compart- ments was similar. These results have great significance for enhanced understanding of the characteristics of wain-induced vibra- tion embankment response in seasonally frozen regions, and provide essential field monitoring data on train-induced vibrations in order to improve the performance criteria of railroading in seasonally frozen regions.

A mathematical approach to evaluate maximum frost heave of unsaturated silty clay

Maximum frost heave of unsaturated frost-susceptible soils,in conjunction with a high water table,is an important consideration for the design of foundations in seasonally frozen regions.Therefore,it is necessary to evaluate accurately and efficiently the maximum frost heave for a given soil.For this purpose,a series of one-sided freezing experiments was conducted on unsaturated silty clay in an open system.Multistage cooling of sufficient duration was applied to the soil sample's top,while constant above-zero temperatures were maintained at the bottom.Then,a simple methodology for calculating maximum frost heave at a given cooling temperature was derived utilizing information obtained within the limited time allotted for each stage.On this basis,an empirical equation for defining maximum frost heave as a function of cooling temperature and overburden pressure was determined.Overall,this study provides a simple and practical procedure that is applicable to the evaluation of maximum frost heave of unsaturated frost-susceptible soils.

Test on dynamic characteristics of subgrade of heavy-haul railway in cold regions

Dynamic characteristics of heavy-haul railway subgrade under vibratory loading in cold regions are investigated via low-temperature dynamie triaxial tests with multi-stage eyelic loading process. The relationship between dynamic shear stress and dynamic shear strain of frozen soil of subgrade under train loading and the influence of freezing temperatures on dynamic constitutive relation, dynamic shear modulus and damping ratio are observed in this study. Test results show that the dynamic constitutive relations of the frozen soils with different freezing temperatures comply with the hyperbolic model, in which model parameters a and b decrease with increasing freezing temperature. The dynamic shear modulus of the frozen soils decreases with increasing dynamic shear strains initially, followed by a relatively smooth attenuation tendency, whereas increases with decreasing freezing temperatures. The damping ratios decrease with decreasing freezing temperatures. Two linear functions are defined to express the linear relationships between dynamic shear modulus （damping ratio） and freezing temperature, respectively, in which corresponding linear coefficients are obtained through multiple regression analysis of test data.

The effect of subgrade inhomogeneity induced by freeze-thaw on the dynamic response of track-subgrade system

The developed vertical coupling model of Vehicle-Track-Subgrade which considered subgrade layer vibration is present- ed. The equations of motion for the ballast, top and bottom subgrade layers are presented in detail. Through inputting different coefficients, the dynamic response of track-subgrade system in a seasonal frozen region in different seasons is obtained by the developed model and the uneven freeze-thaw action of subgrade soil is presented in this model. The ef- fect of subgrade inhomogeneity induced by uneven freeze-thaw on the dynamic response of track-subgrade system was studied and the conclusions are as follows. The force at the interface of ballast and top subgrade layer and the defor- mation of ballast induced by a passing train changed sharply at the stiffness mutation zone. The force and deformation decreased with increasing stiffness ratio with the same amplitude of irregularities as the excitation source. The force and deformation were larger with larger amplitudes of irregularities. There was an obvious effect of uneven deformation and stiffness of subgrade on the dynamic response of track-subgrade system.

CPT-Based estimation of undrained shear strength of fine-grained soils in the Huanghe River Delta

The Huanghe River(Yellow River)Delta has a wide distribution of fine-grained soils.Fluvial alluviation,erosion,and wave loads affect the shoal area,resulting complex physical and mechanical properties to sensitive finegrained soil located at the river-sea boundary.The cone penetration test(CPT)is a convenient and effective in situ testing method which can accurately identify various soil parameters.Studies on undrained shear strength only roughly determine the fine content(FC)without making the FC effect clear.We studied four stations formed in different the Huanghe River Delta periods.We conducted in situ CPT and corresponding laboratory tests,examined the fine content influence on undrained shear strength(S_(u)),and determined the cone coefficient(N_(k)).The conclusions are as follows.(1)The fine content in the area exceeded 90%,and the silt content was high,accounting for more than 70%of all fine particle compositions.(2)The undrained shear strength gradually increased with depth with a maximum of approximately 250 kPa.When the silt content was lower than 60%–70%,the undrained shear strength decreased.(3)The silt and clay content influenced undrained shear strength,and the fitted f_(s)h/q_(t) function model was established,which could be applied to strata with a high fine content.The cone coefficients were between 20 and 25,and the overconsolidated soil layer had a greater cone coefficient.

Numerical simulation of vibrational response characteristics of railway subgrades with insulation boards

This study presents a numerical method based on the surface temperature data and the ground temperature increase in Daqing for predicting temperature field distribution in the Binzhou Railway subgrade and analyzing the temporal and spatial distribution of freeze−thaw status of railway subgrade.The calibrated numerical method is applied to simulate the temperature field distribution and roadbed vibrational response of the railway subgrade with a thermal insulation layer at different seasons.The results show the following:(1)The thermal insulation layer can remarkably increase the soil temperature below it and maximum frost depth in the subgrade.(2)Thermal insulation can effectively reduce the subgrade vibration and protect it from frost damage.(3)Given that the strength requirements are met,the insulation layer should be buried as shallow as possible to effectively reduce the subgrade vibration response.The research findings provide theoretical support for the frost damage prevention of railway subgrades in seasonally frozen regions.

Finite element analysis on deformation of high embankment in heavy-haul railway subjected to freeze-thaw cycles

Finite element simulations are increasingly providing a versatile environment for this topic. In this study, a two-dimensional finite element analysis is conducted to predict the deformation of high embankment in Bazhun heavy-haul railway, China. A recently developed nonlinear softening-type constitutive model is utilized to model the be- havior of subgrade filling materials subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. For the convenience of practical application, the dynamic loading induced by a vehicle is treated as a quasi-static axle load. The deformation of this embankment with different moisture content under freeze-thaw cycles is compared. The results show that when subjected to the first freeze-thaw cycle, the embankment experienced significant deformation variations. Maximum deformation was usually achieved after the embankment with optimum moisture content experienced six freeze-thaw cycles, however, the em- bankment with moisre content of 8.0% and 9.5% deforms continuously even after experiencing almost ten freeze-thaw cycles. Overall, this study provides a simple nonlinear finite element approach for calculating the deformation of the embankment in changing climate conditions.

Numerical simulation of dynamic response of subgrade under moving heavy truck in cold regions

This paper reports on the dynamic response of highway subgmde under moving heavy Wuck in cold regions. Numerical simulations are performed in two stages. In the first stage, the moving heavy truck vibration, induced by mad roughness, is calculated through a three-dimensional dynamic interaction model of heavy tmckavement-subgrade, and the lime-histories of nodal loads on the top of the base are calculated through this model. In the second stage, a two-dimensional dynamic finite element model of the bgrade-ground system is formulated, using the calculated nodal loads from the first stage as input. The dynamic resporkse of the subgrade is validated by field measurements, and the effects of mack type, axle loading, running speed, and road roughness on the vertical dynamic slress in the unfrozen period and the spring thawing period are analyzed and discussed.

Liquefaction-induced damage evaluation of earth embankment and corresponding countermeasure

Liquefaction of sandy soils is a big threat to the stability and the safety of an earth embankment laid on saturated soils.A large number of liquefaction-induced damages on embankment due to different types of earthquakes have been reported worldwide.In this research,the dynamic behaviors of earth embankment and the reinforcement effects of grouting as remediation method,subjected to moderate earthquake EQ1 and strong earthquake EQ2,were numerically investigated.The seismic behaviors of ground composed of cohesionless sandy soil and cohesive clayey soil were uniformly described by the cyclic mobility(CM)model,which is capable of describing accurately the mechanical property of the soil due to monotonic and cyclic loadings by accounting for stress-induced anisotropy,over-consolidation,and soil structure.It is known from the numerical investigation that the embankment would experience destructive deformation,and that the collapse mode was closely related to the properties of input seismic motion because high intensities and long durations of an earthquake motion could lead to significant plastic deformation and prolonged soil liquefaction.Under the strong seismic loading of EQ2,a circular collapse surface,combined with huge settlement and lateral spread,occurred inside the liquefication zone and extended towards the embankment crest.In contrast,in moderate earthquake EQ1,upheaval was observed at each toe of the embankment,and instability occurred only in the liquefied ground.An anti-liquefaction remediation via grouting was determined to significantly reduce liquefaction-induced deformation(settlement,lateral spreading,and local uplift)and restrain the deep-seated circular sliding failure,even though the top sandy soil liquefied in both earthquakes.When the structure was subjected to EQ2 motion,local failure occurred on the embankment slope reinforced with grouting,and thus,an additional appropriate countermeasure should be implemented to further strengthen the slope.For both input motions,the surface deformation of the considered embankment decreased gradually as the thickness of reinforcement was increased,although the reinforcement effect was no longer significant once the thickness exceeded 6 m.

Deviation correction strategy for the earth pressure balance shield based on shield–soil interactions

The control system presently used in shield posture rectification is based on driver experience,which is marginally reliable.The study of the related theory is flawed.Therefore,a decision-making approach for the deviation correction trajectory and posture rectification load for an earth pressure balance(EPB)shield is proposed.A calculation model of posture rectification load of an EPB shield is developed by considering the interactions among the cutter head,shield shell,and ground.The additional position change during the shield attitude correction is highlighted.The posture rectification loads and shield behaviors results can be solved by the proposed method.The influences of the stratum distribution(i.e.,bedrock height in the upper-soft and lower-hard strata)on shield behaviors and posture rectification loads are analyzed.Results indicated that the increase of pitch angle in the upper-soft and lower-hard strata causes a sharp rise in vertical displacement.The bedrock height increases the magnitudes of the required posture rectification moments when hr/D>0.5.For a tunnel with hr/D≤0.5,the variation of hr/D has little effect on the posture rectification moments.Finally,the posture rectifying curves based on the theoretical model are compared with the target ones based on the double circular arc interpolation method.The required results can be obtained regardless of the soil–rock compound stratum distribution.The maximum rectification moment in the rock layer is almost 12.6 times that in the soil layer.Overall,this study provides a valuable reference for moment determination and the trajectory prediction of posture rectification in compound strata.