Design Method for Geogrid Stabilisation of Railway Ballast and Subballast. Issue 1 (1st October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rimoldi, P; Pezzano, P; Trovato, F
• Is Part Of: IOP conference series. Volume 1260:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-01
• Subjects: Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/1260/1/012026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-8981

Abstract

Abstract: Railways are often built on soft soils. Railways present peculiar characteristics in terms of loads applied to subgrade: a single train may produce hundreds wheels loads in few seconds, that is a train produces rapid, repeated and cyclic loads; loads are first distributed from rails to sleepers, then from sleepers to ballast, and finally from ballast to subgrade; loads are always applied to the same area. The effect of such loads on soft soils generates absolute and differential settlements, which may quickly degrade the quality of the railway segment. Reinforcing geogrids may be used for stabilizing the railway base, in such a way as to decrease settlements and to increase the railway lifetime. The paper aims to present a design method for geogrid stabilisation of railway ballast and subballast, taking into account the wheel loads, the number of passages, the railway geometry, the subgrade characteristics and the geogrid properties. The proposed design method can be considered as an extension of design methods for geogrid stabilisation of road bases and it is based on the same engineering principles.