Numerical analysis of geosynthetics and engineering fill in performance of reconditioned ballasted track

Yap, HC; Khabbaz, H; Singh, J

Numerical analysis of geosynthetics and engineering fill in performance of reconditioned ballasted track

Yap, HC Khabbaz, H

Singh, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Geomechanics Journal, 2017, 52 (1), pp. 43 - 55
Issue Date:: 2017-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Yap, HC	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Khabbaz, H https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6637-4601	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Singh, J	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-03-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Geomechanics Journal, 2017, 52 (1), pp. 43 - 55	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0818-9110	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117974
dc.description.abstract	Over the past few decades, geosynthetics have been used extensively during track reconditioning to improve soil stability as they offer many advantages including cost effectiveness, ease of installation and minimal earthworks. Among the wide range of products in the market, geogrid remains the most commonly used geosynthetics for soil reinforcement. The aims of this paper are to investigate the effect of varying subgrade properties on track performance and to examine the effectiveness of geogrids and engineering fill for track reconditioning purposes. In the current study, numerical analyses were conducted using engineering software OptumG2, a finite element program for geotechnical stability and deformation analysis. The results of the parametric study indicated that geogrid inclusion within track substructure has considerable effect on settlement reduction and, in particular, increases the bearing capacity of railway track. The results also suggested that increase in axial stiffness of geogrids has minimal impact on track deformation. The most effective and practical location for geogrid reinforcement was achieved at interface between ballast and capping layers irrespective of the subgrade strength and stiffness. Sensitivity analyses showed that both total settlement and the bearing capacity of the railway track were most affected by the changes in the friction angle of subgrade, compared with cohesion and elastic modulus of subgrade, with or without geogrid reinforcement. The findings concluded that proper design of geogrid reinforcement can eliminate the need for or significantly reduce the thickness of engineering fill for ground improvement purposes.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Geomechanics Journal	en_US
dc.title	Numerical analysis of geosynthetics and engineering fill in performance of reconditioned ballasted track	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	52	en_US
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CBI - Centre for Built Infrastructure
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	52	en_US

Abstract:

Over the past few decades, geosynthetics have been used extensively during track reconditioning to improve soil stability as they offer many advantages including cost effectiveness, ease of installation and minimal earthworks. Among the wide range of products in the market, geogrid remains the most commonly used geosynthetics for soil reinforcement. The aims of this paper are to investigate the effect of varying subgrade properties on track performance and to examine the effectiveness of geogrids and engineering fill for track reconditioning purposes. In the current study, numerical analyses were conducted using engineering software OptumG2, a finite element program for geotechnical stability and deformation analysis. The results of the parametric study indicated that geogrid inclusion within track substructure has considerable effect on settlement reduction and, in particular, increases the bearing capacity of railway track. The results also suggested that increase in axial stiffness of geogrids has minimal impact on track deformation. The most effective and practical location for geogrid reinforcement was achieved at interface between ballast and capping layers irrespective of the subgrade strength and stiffness. Sensitivity analyses showed that both total settlement and the bearing capacity of the railway track were most affected by the changes in the friction angle of subgrade, compared with cohesion and elastic modulus of subgrade, with or without geogrid reinforcement. The findings concluded that proper design of geogrid reinforcement can eliminate the need for or significantly reduce the thickness of engineering fill for ground improvement purposes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117974