• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2005

The reinforcing subgrade, which first introduced Korea for the highspeed subgrade construction, has the many advantages to maintain the quality of ballast track as well as to prevent the softening of subgrade by mud-pumping. It causes the subgrade soil to spout into the ballast on many lines. Therefore, the application of reinforcing subgrade will be expected to increase in the future. This paper introduces the reinforcing subgrade as a maintenance-free technology f3r the railroad operation and the method f3r the determination of reinforcing subgrade depth. The criteria on reinforcing subgrade depths of highspeed and conventional railroad were verified from the calculation results based on an elastic analysis method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.2
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• pp.231-243
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• 2021

In this paper, a dynamic response mapping model of the wheel-rail system is established by using the support vector regression (SVR) method, and the hierarchical safety thresholds of the subgrade void are proposed based on the reliability theory. Firstly, the vehicle-track coupling dynamic model considering the subgrade void is constructed. Secondly, the subgrade void area, the subgrade compaction index K30 and the fastener stiffness are selected as random variables, and the mapping model between these three random parameters and the dynamic response of the wheel-rail system is built by using the orthogonal test and the SVR. The sensitivity analysis is carried out by the range analysis method. Finally, the hierarchical safety thresholds for the subgrade void are proposed. The results show that the subgrade void has the most significant influence on the carbody vertical acceleration, the rail vertical displacement, the vertical displacement and the slab tensile stress. From the range analysis, the subgrade void area has the largest effect on the dynamic response of the wheel-rail system, followed by the fastener stiffness and the subgrade compaction index K30. The recommended safety thresholds for the subgrade void of level I, II and III are 4.01㎡, 6.81㎡ and 9.79㎡, respectively.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.89-105
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• 2022

The behavior of the soil subgrade is complex and irregular against loads. When modeling, the soil is often replaced by a more straightforward system called a subgrade model. The Winkler method of linear elastic springs is a popular method of soil modeling in which the spring constant shows the modulus of subgrade reaction. In this research, the factors affecting the distribution of the modulus of subgrade reaction of elastoplastic subgrades are examined. For this purpose, critical theories about the modulus of subgrade reaction were examined. A square raft foundation on a sandy soil subgrade with was analyzed at different internal friction angles and Young's modulus values using ABAQUS software. To accurately model the actual soil behavior, the elastic, perfectly plastic constitutive model was applied to investigate a foundation on discrete springs. In order to increase the accuracy of soil modeling, equations have been proposed for the distribution of the subgrade reaction modulus. The constitutive model of the springs is elastic, perfectly plastic. It was observed that the modulus of subgrade reaction under an elastic load decreased when moving from the corner to the center of the foundation. For the ultimate load, the modulus of subgrade reaction increased as it moved from the corner to the center of the foundation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.757-774
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• 2017

The subgrade reaction modulus of a large mat foundation was investigated by using a numerical analysis and a field case study. The emphasis was on quantifying the appropriate method for determining the subgrade reaction modulus for the design of a flexible mat foundation. A series of 3D non-linear FE analyses are conducted with special attention given to the subgrade reaction modulus under various conditions, such as the mat width, mat shape, mat thickness, and soil condition. It is shown that the distribution of the subgrade reaction modulus is non-uniform and that the modulus of subgrade reaction at both the corners and edges should be stiffer than that at the center. Based on the results obtained, a simple modification factor for the subgrade reaction modulus is proposed depending on the relative positions within the foundation in weathered soil and rocks.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.583-598
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• 2022

The Compaction effect is important for evaluating the subgrade construction. However, there is little research exploring the compaction quality of deep soil using hydraulic compaction. According to reinforcement effect analysis, dimensional analysis is adopted in this work to analyze subgrade compactness within the effective reinforcement depth, and a prediction model is obtained. A hydraulic compactor is then employed to carry out an in-situ reinforcement test on gravel soil subgrade, and the subgrade parameters before and after reinforcement are analyzed. Results show that a reinforcement difference exists inside the subgrade, and the effective reinforcement depth is defined as increasing compactness to 90% in the depth direction. Layered compactness within the effective reinforcement depth is expressed by parameters including the drop distance of the rammer, peak acceleration, tamping times, subgrade settlement, and properties of rammer and filler. Finally, a field test is conducted to verify the results.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.793-806
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• 2016

The pozzolanic characteristics of a sludge incinerated into ash were determined in this study. Lime is commonly used as a stabilizer for the treatment of soils, whereas sewage sludge ash (SSA) is often applied with lime to improve soft subgrade soil. In this study, a cohesive soil categorized as A-4 (low-plasticity clay) by AASHTO classifications was mixed with SSA/lime with a 3:1 ratio. Nano-$SiO_2$ was also added to the soil. To identify changes in the workability, strength, permeability, and shear strength of the soft subgrade soil, basic soil tests were conducted, and the microstructure of the treated soil was analyzed. The results indicate that SSA/lime mixtures improve the properties of soft subgrade soil and transform the soil from "poor subgrade soil" to "good to excellent subgrade soil" with a CBR > 8. Additionally, the addition of 2% nano-$SiO_2$ increases the unconfined compressive strength of soft subgrade soil treated with SSA/lime mixture by approximately 17 kPa. However, the swelling of the treated soil increased by approximately 0.1% after the addition of nano-$SiO_2$ and lime. Thus, soil swelling should be considered before lime and nano-$SiO_2$ are applied to soft subgrade soil.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2018

Post-construction subgrade settlement especially differential settlement, has become a key issue in construction and operation of non-ballasted track on high-speed railway soil subgrade, which may also affect the dynamic performance of passing trains. To estimate the effect of differential subgrade settlement on the mechanical behaviors of the vehicle-slab track system, a detailed model considering nonlinear subgrade support and initial track state due to track self-weight is developed. Accordingly, analysis aiming at a typical high-speed vehicle coupled with a deteriorated slab track owing to differential subgrade settlement is carried out, in terms of two aspects: (i) determination of an initial mapping relationship between subgrade settlement and track deflections as well as contact state between track and subgrade based on a semi-analytical method; (ii) simulation of dynamic performance of the coupled system by employing a time integration approach. The investigation indicates that subgrade settlement results in additional track irregularity, and locally, the contact between the concrete track and the soil subgrade is prone to failure. Moreover, wheel-rail interaction is significantly exacerbated by the track degradation and abnormal responses occur as a result of the unsupported areas. Distributions of interlaminar contact forces in track system vary dramatically due to the combined effect of track deterioration and dynamic load. These may not only intensify the dynamic responses of the coupled system, but also have impacts on the long-term behavior of the track components.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.485-489
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• 2003

The region of Kochang(Chollabuk-Do) located in the west-southern area of the Korea and passed by the West Coast Expressway has the yellow collar soil(Hwang-To) primarily containing clay. Hwang-To serves as a soil appropriate for growing the watermelon and yam, but as a subgrade material not strong for constructing the roads. Particularly, the subgrade material of this study site was not qualified for the standard of the subgrade material quality. The properties of the subgrade layer showed that the strength of the subgrade material was not strong enough to sustain the subgrade strength in constructing the roads since the passing ratio of the No. 200 sieve was about 25％ to 82％ and the ground water level was early equal to subgrade one. Thus, the objective of this study was to present the methods obtaining the proper subgrade strength of cutting area to construct the secure and solid expressways in the fragile area.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.5
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• pp.491-501
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• 2021

A difference in subgrade settlement between two rails of a track manifests as lateral differential subgrade settlement. This settlement causes unsteadiness in the motion of trains passing through the corresponding area. To illustrate the effect of lateral differential subgrade settlement on the dynamic response of a vehicle-track coupling system, a three-dimensional vehicle-track-subgrade coupling model was formulated by combining the vehicle-track dynamics theory and the finite element method. The wheel/rail force, car body acceleration, and derailment factor are chosen as evaluation indices of the system dynamic response. The effects of the amplitude and wavelength of lateral differential subgrade settlement as well as the driving speed of the vehicle are analyzed. The study reveals the following: The dynamic responses of the vehicle-track system generally increase linearly with the driving speed when the train passes through a lateral subgrade settlement area. The wheel/rail force acting on a rail with a large settlement exceeds that on a rail with a small settlement. The dynamic responses of the vehicle-track system increase with the amplitude of the lateral differential subgrade settlement. For a 250-km/h train speed, the proposed maximum amplitude for a lateral differential settlement with a wavelength of 20 m is 10 mm. The dynamic responses of the vehicle-track system decrease with an increase in the wavelength of the lateral differential subgrade settlement. To achieve a good operation quality of a train at a 250-km/h driving speed, the wavelength of a lateral differential subgrade settlement with an amplitude of 20 mm should not be less than 15 m. Monitoring lateral differential settlements should be given more emphasis in routine high-speed railway maintenance and repairs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.03b
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• pp.255-262
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• 2000

Shaking table tests were peformed to evaluate the subgrade reaction of ground according to the build-up of pore water pressure. Model pile was installed in the sand ground. The acceleration of the model ground, the pore water pressure build-up and displacement of pile were recorded by measuring devices. Subgrade reaction approach based on Winker soil model was applied to obtain the modulus of the horizontal subgrade reaction. The results of analysis show that the reduction factor of the subgrade reaction due to pore pressure increase is about 1 and the horizontal subgrade reaction of liquefied ground is not influenced by the stiffness of pile, a ground acceleration and the intial ground density.