3D Dynamic Modeling of Transition Zones

Authors: Edina Koch, Péter Hudacsek

Abstract:

In railways transition zone is present at the boundaries of zones with different stiffness. When a train rides from an embankment onto a stiff structure, such as a bridge, tunnel or culvert, an abrupt change in the support stiffness occurs possibly inducing differential settlements. This in long term can yield to the degradation of the tracks and foundations in the transition zones. A number of techniques have been proposed or implemented to provide gradual stiffness transition at the problem zones, such as methods to ensure gradually changing pad stiffness, application of long sleepers or installation of auxiliary rails in the transition zone. Aim of the research presented in this paper is to analyze the 3D and the dynamic effects induced by the passing train over an area where significant difference in the support stiffness exists. The effects were analyzed for different arrangements associated with certain differential settlement mitigation strategies of the transition zones.

Keywords: Culvert, dynamic load, HS small model, railway transition zone.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1132389

References:

[1] Insa, R.,”Diseño de vías de alta velocidad: construción y mantenimiento,“ Ciclo de Formação Avançada na ferrovia. Porto: CSF, 2008.
[2] European Rail Research Institute. Utrech. ERRI D 230.1/RP 3. ‘Bridge ends” “Embankment Structure Transition” State of the Art Report, Nov. 1999.
[3] Kerr, A. D., & Moroney, B. E. “Track transition problems and remedies” Paper presented at the the American Railway Engineering Association, Washington, USA. 1993.
[4] Li, D., & Davis, D. “Transition of Railroad Bridge Approaches” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 131(11), 2005. pp. 1392–1398.
[5] Read, D., & Li, D. “Research results digest 79 Transit cooperative research program D-7/Task”, 15 (pp. 38). Pueblo, Colorado: Transportation technology center, Inc. (TTCI), 2006.
[6] Sasaoka, C. D., & Davis, D. “Implementing track transition solutions for heavy axle load service” Paper presented at the the AREMA 2005 Annual Conference, AREMA, 2005.
[7] Li, D., Otter, D., & Carr, G. “Railway bridge approaches under heavy axle load traffic: problems, causes, and remedies” Paper presented at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 2010.
[8] Brinkgreve R. B. J., Vermeer P. A. “PLAXIS-Finite element code for soil and rock analyses”, Plaxis 3D. Manuals, Delft University of Technology  Plaxis bv, The Netherlands, 2010.
[9] Mojtaba Shahraki, Mohamad Reza Salehi Sadaghiani, Prof. Dr.-Ing Karl Josef Witt, Dr.-Ing Thomas Meier. (2014): 3D Modelling of Train Induced Moving Loads on an Embankment. Plaxis Bulletin, Autumn issue, pp. 10-15
[10] Seed H. B., Idriss I. M. “Soil moduli and damping factors for dynamic response analyses”, Technical Report EERRC-70-10, University of California, Berkeley, 1970.
[11] Cavallaro, A., Maugeri, M., Lo Presti, D. C. F. and Pallata, O., "Characterising Shear Modulus and Damping from in Situ and Laboratory Tests for the Seismic Area of Catania". Proceeding of the 2nd International Symposium on Pre-failure Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials, Torino, 28 - 30 September 1999, pp. 51 - 58.
[12] Mayne PW, Schneider JA “Evaluating drilled shaft response by seismic conw”. Foundation and ground improvement, GSP No. 113, ASCE, Reston, VA, 2001, pp 655-669
[13] Benz, T., Vermeer, P. A., Schwab, R. “A small-strain overlay model”, International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 33, 2009, pp 25–44.
[14] Ir. Martin A. op de Kelder. “2D FEM analysis compared with the in-situ deformation measurements: A small study on the performance of the HS and HSsmall model in a design”, Plaxis Bulletin, Issue 38, Autumn 2015, pp. 10-17.
[15] Wichtmann, T., Triantafyllidis, T, “On the correlation of ''static'' and ''dynamic'' stiffness moduli of non-cohesive soils”, Bautechnik, Vol. 86 (S1), 2009, pp 28-39.
[16] Benz, T. “Small Strain Stiffness of Soils and its Numerical Consequences”. Ph.D. Dissertation. Institut für Geotechnik der Universität Stuttgart. 2006, 209 p.
[17] Atkinson, J. H., Sallfors, G. “Experimental determination of soil properties”. Proceedings of the 10th ECSMFE, Vol. 3, Florence, 1991, pp 915-956.
[18] Mair, R. J. “Developments in geotechnical engineering research: application to tunnels and deep excavations”. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineering, 1993, pp 27-41.
[19] CSN EN 14679 – Execution of special geotechnical works - Deep mixing, European Standard, 2005.