Numerical modelling of the reinforcing effect of geosynthetic material used in ballasted railway tracks

Abstract

This article deals with finite-element (FE) modelling of the reinforcing effect of the geosynthetic material used in the construction of a ballasted track. Various different designs of geosynthetic material are studied and their reinforcing effects are evaluated in terms of the total settlement reduction. Three-dimensional FE models of the reinforced railway superstructure are compared to a reference FE model with no reinforcement. Each geosynthetic material is modelled respecting its material properties, and the interaction with the ballast material is simulated according to its primary function. A clear distinction in the modelling of the interaction with the ballast material is made between geogrids and the remaining geosynthetics. A new approach to model the reinforcing effect of a geogrid is proposed and evaluated by FE analysis. The results of numerical modelling are compared to those of experiments conducted using an experimental box instrumented with one half of an instrumented concrete sleeper. Different types of geosynthetics were used to reinforce the ballast material, and the settlement reduction was measured using linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) sensors. The proposed FE models enable quick evaluation of the reinforcing effect of a given geosynthetic and comparison to other possible solutions in terms of the total settlement reduction. Other design possibilities (e.g. the use of reinforcing geosynthetics in several layers) are briefly discussed, too.

Keywords

railway track bed reinforcing geogrid finite-element modelling settlement reduction contact analysis ballast material

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