摘要: |
The major causes contributing to railway subgrade problems are explained. Repeated dynamic loading, fine-grained soils, and excessive moisture content are indicated to be the major causes. The characteristics of different subgrade problems are discussed. Progressive shear failure, excessive plastic deformation, and subgrade attrition with mud pumping are the major problems for most railway subgrades under repeated traffic loading. The practical approaches for evaluation of subgrade are discussed. To identify potential problem subgrade sites, the recommended approaches include the use of the available soil, geologic, and hydrologic information; visual inspection; study of track maintenance history; and analysis of track geometry car measurements. To assess subgrade conditions for a site known to have track foundation problems, the recommended approaches include the field subsurface inspection, laboratory tests, cone penetration test, and track stiffness test. For each of these approaches its application to the railway subgrade is analyzed and discussed. |