EVALUATION OF RAILWAY SUBGRADE PROBLEMS

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.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1995/1489/1489-003.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EVALUATION+OF+RAILWAY+SUBGRADE+PROBLEMS&author=D.+Li&author=E.+Selig&publication_year=1995
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309061555
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1489, Railroad Transportation Research. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Li, Duo
  • Selig, E T
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 17-25
• Monograph Title: Railroad Transportation Research
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1489
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerated tests; Cone penetrometers; Failure; Fine grained soils; Geological surveying; Inspection; Laboratory tests; Losses; Moisture content; Mud pumps; Pavement subgrade; Plastic deformation; Railroad tracks; Repeated loads; Soils
• Uncontrolled Terms: Track stiffness
• Old TRIS Terms: Mud pumping; Shear failures; Site inspections; Soil attrition
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00714801
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309061555
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 30 1995 12:00AM