Computer vision-aided DEM study on the compaction characteristics of graded subgrade filler considering realistic coarse particle shapes

The compaction quality of subgrade filler strongly affects subgrade settlement.The main objective of this research is to analyze the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the real shape of coarse particles.First,an improved Viola-Jones algorithm is employed to establish a digitalized 2D particle database for coarse particle shape evaluation and discrete modeling purposes of subgrade filler.Shape indexes of 2D subgrade filler are then computed and statistically analyzed.Finally,numerical simulations are performed to quantitatively investigate the effects of the aspect ratio(AR)and interparticle friction coefficient(μ)on the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the discrete element method(DEM).The results show that with the increasing AR,the coarse particles are narrower,leading to the increasing movement of fine particles during compaction,which indicates that it is difficult for slender coarse particles to inhibit the migration of fine particles.Moreover,the average displacement of particles is strongly influenced by the AR,indicating that their occlusion under power relies on particle shapes.The dis-placement and velocity of fine particles are much greater than those of the coarse particles,which shows that compaction is primarily a migration of fine particles.Under the cyclic load,the interparticle friction coefficientμhas little effect on the internal structure of the sample;under the quasi-static loads,however,the increase inμwill lead to a significant increase in the porosity of the sample.This study could not only provide a novel approach to investigate the compaction mechanism but also establish a new theoretical basis for the evaluation of intelligent subgrade compaction.

Effect of degree of saturation on stresses and pore water pressure in the subgrade layer caused by railway track loading

Purpose-The experiments of this study investigated the effect of the subgrade degree of saturation on the value of the stresses generated on the surface and the middle(vertical and lateral stresses).The objectives of this study can be identified by studying the effect of subgrade layer degree of saturation variation,load amplitude and load frequency on the transmitted stresses through the ballast layer to the subgrade layer and the stress distribution inside it and investigating the excess pore water pressure development in the clay layer in the case of a fully saturated subgrade layer and the change in matric suction in the case of an unsaturated subgrade layer.Design/methodology/approach-Thirty-six laboratory experiments were conducted using approximately half-scale replicas of real railways,with an iron box measuring 1.5×1.031.0 m.Inside the box,a 0.5 m thick layer of clay soil representing the base layer was built.Above it is a 0.2 m thick ballast layer made of crushed stone,and on top of that is a 0.8 m long rail line supported by three 0.9 m(0.1×0.1 m)slipper beams.The subgrade layer has been built at the following various saturation levels:100,80,70 and 60%.Experiments were conducted with various frequencies of 1,2 and 4 Hz with load amplitudes of 15,25 and 35 kN.Findings-The results of the study demonstrated that as the subgrade degree of saturation decreased from 100 to 60%,the ratio of stress in the lateral direction to stress in the vertical direction generated in the middle of the subgrade layer decreased as well.On average,this ratio changed from approximately 0.75 to approximately 0.65.Originality/value-The study discovered that as the test proceeded and the number of cycles increased,the value of negative water pressure(matric suction)in the case of unsaturated subgrade soils declined.The frequency of loads had no bearing on the ratio of decline in matric suction values,which was greater under a larger load amplitude than a lower one.As the test progressed(as the number of cycles increased),the matric suction dropped.For larger load amplitudes,there is a greater shift in matric suction.The change in matric suction is greater at higher saturation levels than it is at lower saturation levels.Furthermore,it is seen that the load frequency value has no bearing on how the matric suction changes.For all load frequencies and subgrade layer saturation levels,the track panel settlement rises with the load amplitude.Higher load frequency and saturation levels have a greater impact.

Micro-destructive assessment of subgrade compaction quality using ultrasonic pulse velocity

The ultrasonic pulse velocity(UPV)correlates significantly with the density and pore size of subgrade filling materials.This research conducts numerous Proctor and UPV tests to examine how moisture and rock content affect compaction quality.The study measures the changes in UPV across dry density and compaction characteristics.The compacted specimens exhibit distinct microstructures and mechanical properties along the dry and wet sides of the compaction curve,primarily influenced by internal water molecules.The maximum dry density exhibits a positive correlation with the rock content,while the optimal moisture content demonstrates an inverse relationship.As the rock content increases,the relative error of UPV measurement rises.The UPV follows a hump-shaped pattern with the initial moisture content.Three intelligent models are established to forecast dry density.The measure of UPV and PSO-BP-NN model quickly assesses compaction quality.

The effect of seismic action on stability of saline soil subgrade in cold region based on isothermal stratification method

With the change of seasons, the shear strength of saline soil subgrade filler will change with the change of external temperature, which will aggravate the adverse effects of seismic on the subgrade. To explore the influence of seismic action on the stability of saline soil subgrade under the influence of temperature on the strength of saline soil subgrade filler, this paper first carried out saline soil shear tests at different temperatures to obtain the influence of temperature on the shear strength of saline soil. Then, the temperature field of the saline soil subgrade was simulated, and then based on the subgrade isothermal stratification model and FLAC3D, the displacement and acceleration amplification effects of seismic action on the shady slope, sunny slope and subgrade of saline soil subgrade in different months were analyzed. The following conclusions were finally drawn: under the action of seismic, In the process of the change of subgrade temperature of Qarhan-Golmud Expressway between 7.7°C and 27°C, the change of saline soil cohesion is the main factor affecting the stability of subgrade slope, and the maximum and minimum values of subgrade surface settlement appear in September and June of each year,respectively. In August, the differences of settlement between the shady slope and the sunny slope shoulder of the subgrade were the largest, and the acceleration of the shady slope and the sunny slope and the inside of the subgrade changed most significantly in the vertical direction. Special attention should be paid to the seismic early warning in the above key months;In the range from both sides of the shoulder to the centerline of the roadbed,the acceleration amplification effect starts to increase significantly from about 3m from the centerline of the roadbed to the centerline, so it is necessary to pay attention to the seismic design of this range.

Study on the Construction Technology of Subgrade Pavement in Road and Bridge Settlement Section

With the continuous development of China’s economy,the construction of roads and bridges work has put forward higher requirements.Due to various factors,the long-term use of roads and bridges will produce a settlement phenomenon.Therefore,it is crucial to address settlement issues during the construction of roads and bridges to ensure that the quality of subgrade and pavement construction meets national regulations.This paper introduces the harm of subgrade pavement subsidence,analyzes the causes of subgrade pavement deformation,and discusses the technical points of subgrade pavement construction,hoping to provide some reference for relevant practitioners.

Dynamic behavior of new cutting subgrade structure of expensive soil under train loads coupling with service environment

Expansive soil is sensitive to dry and wet environment change. And the volume deformation and inflation pressure of expansive soil may induce to cause the deformation failure of roadbed or many other adverse effects. Aimed at a high-speed railway engineering practice in the newly built Yun-Gui high-speed railway expansive soil section in China, indoor vibration test on a full-scaled new cutting subgrade model is carried out. Based on the established track-subgrade-foundation of expansive soil system dynamic model test platform, dynamic behavior of new cutting subgrade structure under train loads coupling with extreme service environment(dry, raining, and groundwater level rising) is analyzed comparatively. The results show that the subgrade dynamic response is significantly influenced by service conditions and the dynamic response of subgrade gradually becomes stable with the increasing vibration times under various service environment conditions. The vertical dynamic soil stress is related with the depth in an approximate exponential function, and the curves of vertical dynamic soil stress present a "Z" shape distribution along transverse distance. The peak value of dynamic soil stress appears below the rail, and it increases more obviously near the roadbed surface. However, the peak value of dynamic soil stress is little affected outside 5.0 m of center line. The vibration velocity and acceleration are in a quadratic curve with an increase in depth, and the raining and groundwater level rising increase both the vibration velocity and the acceleration. The vertical deformations at different depths are differently affected by service environment in roadbed. The deformation of roadbed increases sharply when the water gets in the foundation of expansive soil, and more than 60% of the total deformation of roadbed occurs in expansive soil foundation. The laid waterproofing and drainage structure layer, which weakens the dynamic stress and improves the track regularity, presents a positive effect on the control deformation of roadbed surface. An improved empirical formula is then proposed to predict the dynamic stress of ballasted tracks subgrade of expansive soil.

Application of New-type Soil Stabilizer Q2 in Subgrade Construction

The research analyzed characters of soil stabilizer and detailed the solidification mechanism.Furthermore,new type soil stabilizer Q2 was used in a base of Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture and a solidified road with length of 250 m,width of 4 m and thickness of 0.25 m were constructed.The road was tested with an agricultural truck and subgrade tolerance to freezing was tested also.It is suggested that new type soil stabilizer would reduce construction cost of road,protect environment,and reduce construction period,with high value of application.

Field experiment of subgrade vibration induced by passing train in a seasonally frozen region of Daqing

The vibration characteristics and attenuation of the subgrade caused by passing trains in a seasonally frozen region of Daqing, China are investigated. Three field experiments were conducted during different times through the year, in normal, freezing and thawing periods, respectively, and the influence of the season, train speed and train type, is described in this paper. The results show that： （1） the vertical component is the greatest among the three components of the measured vibration near the rail track, and as the distance to the railway track increases, the dominant vibration depends on the season. （2） Compared with the vibration in the normal period, the vertical and longitudinal vibrations increase while the lateral vibration decreases in the freezing period. However, in the thawing period, the vertical and longitudinal vibrations decrease, and the lateral vibration increases. （3） As train speeds increase, the subgrade vibration increases. （4） The vibration induced by a freight train is greater than by a passenger train. These observations provide a better understanding of the vibration and dynamic stability of the subgrade and may be useful in developing criteria for railway and building construction in cold regions.

Analysis of temperature field characteristics based on subgrade site measurements of Harbin-Qiqihar High-speed Railway in a deep seasonal frozen soil region

Recent years have seen a large number of high-speed railways built and will be built in seasonal frozen soil regions ot China. Although high-speed railways are characterized by being fast, comfortable and safe, higher standards for defor- mation of the railways＇ frozen subgrade are required. Meanwhile, changes in subgrade soil temperatures are the main factors affecting the deformation of frozen subgrade. Therefore, this paper selected typical test subgrade sections of the Harbin-Qiqihar Line, a special line for passenger transport built in the deep seasonal frozen soil regions of China, to monitor field temperatures. Also, the temperature changing laws of railways＇ subgrade in this region was analyzed by using testing data, the aim of which is to provide a technical support for future design and construction of buildings and structures in a deep seasonal frozen soil region.

Stability analysis of subgrade cave roofs in karst region

According to the engineering features of subgrade cave roof in karst region, the clamped beam model of subgrade cave roof in karst region was set up. Based on the catastrophe theory, the cusp catastrophe model for bearing capacity of subgrade cave roof and safe thickness of subgrade cave roof in karst region was established. The necessary instability conditions of subgrade cave roof were deduced, and then the methods to determine safe thickness of cave roofs under piles and bearing capacity of subgrade cave roof were proposed. At the same time, a practical engineering project was applied to verifying this method, which has been proved successfu1ly. At last, the major factors that affect the stability on cave roof under pile in karst region were deeply discussed and some results in quality were acquired.

Analysis of ground vibrations induced by high-speed train moving on pile-supported subgrade using three-dimensional FEM

The pile-supported subgrade has been widely used in high-speed railway construction in China.To investigate the ground vibrations of such composite foundation subjected to moving loads induced by high-speed trains(HSTs),three-dimensional(3D)finite element method(FEM)models involving the pile,pile cap and cushion are established.Validation of the proposed model is conducted through comparison of model predictions with the field measurements.On this basis,ground vibrations generated by HSTs under different train speeds as well as the ground vibration attenuation with the distance away from the track centerline are investigated.In addition,the effects of piles and pile elastic modulus on ground vibrations are well studied.Results show that the pile-reinforcement of the subgrade could significantly contribute to the reduction of ground vibrations.In particular,the increase of elastic modulus of pile could lead to consistent reduction of ground vibrations.However,when the pile elastic modulus is beyond 10 GPa,this benefit of pile-reinforcement on vibration isolation can hardly be increased further.

Analysis of railway subgrade frost heave deformation based on GPS

In order to analyze the connection between the railway subgrade frost heave deformation and temperature variation, five GPS stations＇ data were used to monitor the deformation on a certain section of railway subgrade in northeast China. GAMIT software is used to process the data, providing daily solution, daytime solution and nighttime solution. Vertical trends of these five stations were analyzed to investigate frost heave effect on railway subgrade deformation. The results show that the temperature difference between daytime and night induces stations, significant vertical displacement, and the temperature difference between seasons causes settlement of station which appears linear trend.

Systematization of features and requirements for geological survey of railroad subgrades functioning in cold regions

The operation of a railway track in cold regions results in the premature deformation of subgrade soils caused by significant temperature fluctuations and ecological imbalance.Identification and calculation of the thawing degree of permafrost soils,frost heaving of clays,and groundwater flooding require careful engineering and geological surveying.The paper describes the unique,long-standing experience of the university scientists connected with maintaining the Russian EastSiberian and Trans-Baikal Railways'facilities.Specific features of and requirements for the surveying,depending on the geological and climatic conditions,are identified.

Technological monitoring of subgrade construction on high-temperature permafrost

Three stages of complex technological monitoring for the increase of high-temperature-permafrost soil bearing capacity are described. The feasibility of process monitoring to improve the targeted strength properties of subgrade bases on frozen soils is demonstrated. The rationale for the necessity of predictive modeling of freeze-thaw actions during the subgrade construction period is provided.

Numerical simulation on flow field,wind erosion and sand sedimentation patterns over railway subgrades

The railway subgrades in the sandy areas act as an obstacle interfering wind-blown sand,causing sand erosion and sedimentation,which can disrupt the safe and stable operation of the railway system.Most previous studies mainly focus on the flow field around railway subgrades,however,the real erosion and sedimentation patterns are rarely studied.This study aims to analyze the erosion and sand sedimentation patterns of wind-blown sand over the subgrades with different heights and steel rails using the ratio of the wall shear stress to the critical value of erosion shear stress.Results show that wind erosion near the top of the upwind slope of the embankment and the shoulder on the upwind side are more severe,and the severity increases with an increase in the height of the embankment.With the increase of wind velocity,sand sedimentation both on the windward and leeside of the subgrade decreases and wind erosion by reverse flow occur.This study indicates that railways in sandy areas should be constructed with a moderate subgrade height(4 m).

Effect of granite gravel content on improved granular mixtures as railway subgrade fillings

The improved granular mixtures are widely used as the fillings of railway 8ubgrade, and in order to investigate the effect of coarse grain content on granular mixtures, a series of field tests were conducted. The experimental results indicate that the permeability coefficient increases significantly with the increment of granite gravel content, especially in the range of 60%-70%. Thcrc exists a coarse grain content limit defined as 53%-58.5% to reform the permeable granular skeleton. Beyond this limit, the permeable granular skeleton is efficiently formed, and the macro pores between the separate gravels are partially filled, which is the explanation lbr the permeability increase. The investigations indicate the subgrade resistance modulus （ks0, Ev2, and Evd） depends on the granite gravel content, and the resistance modulus increases significantly beyond granite gravel content of 50%. The skeletons of granitc gravel clayey sand mixture change in the long-term deformation objected to the train-induced dynamic load, which involves three main repeated and circular deformation stages. Generally, the long-time deformation is explained as the gravel crushing and filling the internal porous space with crushed gravel fragments. Through these investigations, the C40-G60 or C30-G70 is recommended as an optimum soil mixture for the good permeability and high resistance modulus.

Dynamic model of vertical vehicle-subgrade coupled system under secondary suspension

As it is known, track transportation can be divided into track system above and track system below. While the train is moving, the parts above and below are interacted and influenced. Therefore, in fact, the problem of track transportation is the match between the vehicle and the raihvay line system. In this paper, on a basis of dynamic analysis of the vehicle-subgrade model of vertical coupled system under primary suspension, utilizing track maintenance standard and simulating track irregularity excitation, the dynamic interaction of vehicle-track-subgrade system is researched in theory and dynamic model of the vertical vehicle-track-subgrade coupled system under secondary suspension is established by compatibility condition of deformation. Even this model considers the actual structure of a vehicle, also considers vibration characteristic of the substructure of track including subgrade and foundation. All these work want to be benefit for understanding and design about the dynamic characters of subgrade in high speed railway.

Development of a Soil Stabilizer for Road Subgrade Based on Original Phosphogypsum

The research used industrial by-products original phosphogypsum(PG)as the main raw material,slag(SG)and Portland cement(PC)as auxiliary materials,and the optimal additive amount was determined according to the compressive strength value of the sample.Comprehensively evaluate the water resistance and volume stability of the samples,and determine the best formula for new roadbed stabilized materials.The results showed that when the weight ratio of PG,slag and cement was OPG:SG:PC=6:3:1,and mixed with 5%micro silica fume(MSF)and 3‰hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose(HPMC),the sample’s comprehensive performance was the best,specifically,the sample’s compressive strength in 60 days reached 28.8 MPa,the softening coefficient reached 0.9,and the expansion rate was stable at about−0.2%.In addition,the mechanism of action of enhancers MSF and HPMC was analyzed according to use Vicat device,X-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscope.The best formula SP3GH3 has the best curing effect on soil.The 28-day unconfined compressive strength(UCS)of the sample reached 2.4 MPa,the expansion rate was less than 0.09%,and the water stability coefficient was above 0.79,which was higher than that of the samples cured by traditional cement and lime during the same period.

Prediction of resilient modulus for subgrade soils based on ANN approach

The resilient modulus(MR)of subgrade soils is usually used to characterize the stiffness of subgrade and is a crucial parameter in pavement design.In order to determine the resilient modulus of compacted subgrade soils quickly and accurately,an optimized artificial neural network(ANN)approach based on the multi-population genetic algorithm(MPGA)was proposed in this study.The MPGA overcomes the problems of the traditional ANN such as low efficiency,local optimum and over-fitting.The developed optimized ANN method consists of ten input variables,twenty-one hidden neurons,and one output variable.The physical properties(liquid limit,plastic limit,plasticity index,0.075 mm passing percentage,maximum dry density,optimum moisture content),state variables(degree of compaction,moisture content)and stress variables(confining pressure,deviatoric stress)of subgrade soils were selected as input variables.The MR was directly used as the output variable.Then,adopting a large amount of experimental data from existing literature,the developed optimized ANN method was compared with the existing representative estimation methods.The results show that the developed optimized ANN method has the advantages of fast speed,strong generalization ability and good accuracy in MR estimation.

A method used to determine the upper thermal boundary of subgrade based on boundary layer theory

In the numerical simulation of long-term subgrade temperature fields, the daily variation of soil temperature at a certain depth h is negligible. Such phenomenon is called the ＂boundary layer theory.＂ Depth h is defined as the boundary layer thickness and the soil temperature at h is approximately equal to a temperature increment plus the average atmosphere temperature. In the past, the boundary layer thickness and temperature increment were usually extracted from monitored data in the field. In this paper, a method is proposed to determinate the boundary layer thickness and temperature incre- ment. Based on the typical designs of highway or railway, the theoretical solution of boundary layer thickness is inferred and listed. Further, the empirical equation and design chart for determining the temperature increment are given in which the following factors are addressed, including solar radiation, equivalent thermal diffusivity and convective heat-transfer coefficient. Using these equations or design charts, the boundary layer thickness and temperature increment can be easily determined and used in the simulation of long-term subgrade temperature fields. Finally, an example is conducted and used to verify the method. The result shows that the proposed method for determining the upper thermal boundary of subgrade is accurate and practical.