Vibration Response Characteristics and Application of Existing Railway Subgrade

Zhang, Junyun; He, Zhuoling; Chen, Siyuan; Zhang, Le

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9926980

Shock and Vibration

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Abstract Introduction Results and Analysis Discussion Conclusion Data Availability Conflicts of Interest Acknowledgments References Copyright Related Articles

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Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geodynamics

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Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2021 | Article ID 9926980 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9926980

Vibration Response Characteristics and Application of Existing Railway Subgrade

Junyun Zhang,¹Zhuoling He,¹Siyuan Chen,¹and Le Zhang¹

Academic Editor: Gang Fan

Received31 Mar 2021

Accepted18 May 2021

Published28 May 2021

Abstract

The existing conventional methods of subgrade disease assessment are not suitable for the existing lines. There are many research studies on the vibration response and attenuation law of the railway subgrade, but few research studies focus on the vibration response and attenuation law caused by the weak subgrade. In this study, vibration response tests were carried out at different positions and depths of the subgrade before and after reinforcement improvement. The results show that vibration response near the ballast is obvious, and it attenuates with the increase of the horizontal distance from the rail; the vibration acceleration response of the subgrade after reinforcement changes greatly; the vibration response curve of the reinforced section is spindle shaped, and the vertical vibration acceleration response attenuates obviously at the depth of 6.5 m, only about 10% to 30% of the surface; the vibration acceleration of the subgrade with reinforcement at the depth of 4.5 m attenuates to 60% of the surface; the vibration acceleration of the subgrade without reinforcement at the depth of 4.5 m attenuates to 50%–60% of the surface.

1. Introduction

At present, the conventional methods for evaluating subgrade diseases mainly include the stiff-plate bearing test [1, 2], cone penetration test [3, 4], dynamic penetration test [5–8], and ground-penetrating radar [9–14]. Among them, the stiff-plate bearing test and the penetration test could affect the normal operation of the train, and the test point is single, which cannot represent the subgrade state of the section. The ground-penetrating radar could determine the structural layers of the subgrade quickly and soil layers such as ballast bags, but it cannot quantitatively analyze the physical and mechanical indexes of the subgrade. These disease detections for existing line have limitations, not applicable to disease detection of existing lines.

Researchers have carried out a lot of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation test, indoor model test, and field test on vibration response characteristics and attenuation law of the railway subgrade [15–24]. In the early study of the subgrade vibration response, scholars considered the influence of thickness [5], grouping form [25], train speed [26], and properties of soil [27] on subgrade vibration response characteristics and attenuation law. Previous research usually focused on indoor model test and numerical simulation. But as the most direct method for subgrade vibration response characteristics, field tests conducted in China [28, 29], France [30], Germany [31], and UK [32] provided an important basis for the study of subgrade vibration response characteristics. However, there are few field test studies on the vibration response and attenuation law of the diseased subgrade, and the characteristics of the vibration response of the diseased subgrade for a railway line are not definite at present.

Based on Baoji-Zhongwei Railway improvement project, the monitoring results of vibration response difference between the weak subgrade and improved subgrade are compared. And the acceleration in the maximum value, mean value, and effective value are discussed to research the attenuation law of the weak subgrade and improved subgrade. In addition, the selection of monitoring point location is analyzed. The comparison before and after the reinforcement may provide reference for the detection method of the weak subgrade.

2. General Situation of Test Site

Baoji-Zhongwei Railway, built in the 1990s, is a single-line multipurpose railway, as shown in Figure 1. The research site is located in section K329–K331, 20 km away from the Guyuan City. The diseased subgrade lies among farmland, and water content in loess at a certain depth of the surface is high due to irrigation. The subgrade shows soft plastic or flow plastic shape, leading to subgrade settlement under the action of train dynamic load. The monitoring section is a typical northwest seasonal frozen region in China, freezing in winter and thawing in summer. As the surrounding farmland is irrigated, the maximum freezing depth is 1.4 m–3 m.

3. Principle

The subgrade has a certain plasticity. The measured displacement is lagging (Figure 2), and the measured vibration value is affected by many factors. Therefore, the displacement is not suitable for vibration test and analysis. In most of the subgrade vibration response monitoring, the monitoring target train is fast and the frequency is high, and the vibration acceleration is often used as the detection index. Considering the on-site monitoring results and engineering practice, the vibration acceleration is taken as the detection index in this research.

The relationship between vibration acceleration and subgrade stiffness is explained by theoretical derivation of the vibration response of the subgrade surface under moving load, as shown in the following equation:Where is the displacement of viscoelastic half-space; is the body force of viscoelastic half-space; λ and G are the Lamé parameters of viscoelastic half-space; ρ is the density of viscoelastic half-space; is the Hamilton operator; and is the Laplace operator.

At present, viscoelastic half-space is widely used to simulate subgrade. The governing equation of the ideal model of viscoelastic half-space expressed is as follows.

For the basic governing equations, there are many ways to solve them. At present, the commonly used methods are the green function method and direct integral change method [33].

According to the geometric equation and physical equation of viscoelastic dynamics, Fourier transform is carried out with respect to the spatial variables x and y, as shown in the following equation:where Ф is the scalar function; ѱ₁ and ѱ₂ are vector functions; λ and G are the Lamé constants of viscoelastic half-space; ρ is the density of viscoelastic half-space; and k₁ and k₂ are the wave numbers along the directions of x and y.

Stress boundary condition of viscoelastic questions is imported, as shown in the following equation:

Considering the above formula, the acceleration can be obtained aswhere P is the value of load, δ(⋅) is the load action function, f(t) is the load function which changes over time, , ω is the vibrational frequency, and k₁ and k₂ are the wave numbers along the directions of x and y.

It can be seen from the above formulas that the vibration acceleration of the subgrade can reflect the stiffness characteristics of the subgrade to a certain extent. The stiffness properties of the subgrade before and after treatment are obviously different. Hence, it is reasonable that vibration acceleration is used to reflect the stiffness properties of the subgrade in this research.

4. Monitoring Scheme

4.1. Vibration Response Monitoring Equipment

An 891-2 vibration pickup developed by the Institute of Engineering Mechanics, CEA, was used in this test, as shown in Figure 3. Moreover, an amplifier and an acquisition instrument were adopted for monitoring, and the connection among the instruments is shown in Figure 4. The vibration pickup was connected to the amplifier to amplify the collected vibration response signal by a certain multiple. And then it was connected to the data acquisition instrument. The data acquisition instrument was connected with the computer to directly analyze and sort out the test signal.

4.2. Reinforcement Scheme

Sections K329 + 530 and K330 + 990 were reinforced by rotary jet grouting piles from December 3, 2016, to December 15, 2016, as shown in Figure 5. Rotary jet grouting piles were used to reinforce this section of subgrade. The distance between the rotary jet grouting piles was 2 m, arranged crosswise.

4.3. Arrangement of Measuring Points

Three representative sections were selected for vibration monitoring in this monitoring, K329 + 530, K330 + 990, and K331 + 315, to comprehensively analyze the vibration response characteristics of existing railway subgrade. K331 + 315 is weak subgrade, and the other two are improved subgrades. And the vibration acceleration of the subgrade adjacent to ballast, foot of subgrade, and subgrade underneath the foundation were monitored, respectively. Three directions are specified, of which the X direction is parallel to the rail direction (longitudinal), the Y direction is perpendicular to the rail direction (transverse), and the Z direction is vertical, as shown in Figure 6(a).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Measuring point C1 and measuring point C2 were arranged in section K329 + 530, to monitor the response characteristics of subgrade vibration at different locations. In this test, two measuring points were set on the surface perpendicular to the direction of embankment. Measuring point C1 was set at the ballast and measuring point C2 was set at the bottom of embankment, as shown in Figure 6(b).

In order to research the propagation and attenuation law of the vibration response along soil depth before and after subgrade reinforcement treatment as well as the seasonal variation, measuring points were arranged in sections K330 + 990 and K331 + 315. Considering the communication optical cable along the railway, the measuring points were arranged at a distance of 8 m from the rail horizontal distance. The specific layout depths of K330 + 990 section after subgrade reinforcement were 0.5 m, 1.5 m, 2.5 m, 3.5 m, and 6.5 m, respectively, as shown in Figure 6(c). The specific layout depths of section K331 + 315 section before subgrade reinforcement treatment were 0.5 m, 1.5 m, 2.5 m, 3.5 m, and 4.5 m, respectively, as shown in Figure 6(d).

5. Results and Analysis

5.1. Selection of Vibration Direction and Value

The response of subgrade vibration influenced by train passing is a complex forced composite action. In order to elaborate this response more reasonably, different physical representative values need to be taken for analysis. In this paper, the characteristic values of vibration acceleration are defined as follows: the average value of the absolute maximum acceleration, in which 5 maximum acceleration values and 5 minimum acceleration values are calculated; the effective value while the train passes; and the average value while the train passes. The expression of the three is shown in equations (5)–(7).

From Figure 7, it can be seen that among the three directions of vibration acceleration, the largest is vertical vibration acceleration (Z direction) and the smallest is Y direction. In addition, the mean and the effective values are more obvious than the maximum, and the mean and the effective values in Z direction are more significant than those in other two directions. Therefore, the mean and effective values of vertical vibration acceleration are taken as the indexes to study the attenuation law of vibration acceleration of damaged subgrade.

(a)

(b)

(c)

5.2. Vibration Response along Horizontal Distance of Subgrade

It can be seen from Figures 8 and 9 that before foundation reinforcement, the peak vertical, longitudinal, and transverse vibration accelerations near ballast are 8.45 mm/s², 14.4 mm/s², and 22.3 mm/s², respectively, while the peak vertical, longitudinal, and transverse vibration accelerations of the foot of the subgrade are 6.85 mm/s², 6.37 mm/s², and 3.06 mm/s², respectively; the vibration response decreases with the increase of the horizontal distance from rails. The vibration response of C1 measuring point is more obvious, and it is suitable to study the vibration response characteristics before and after subgrade reinforcement if considering the actual situation.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(b)

(c)

5.3. Vibration Response before and after Subgrade Reinforcement

5.3.1. Time-Domain Curve

Figure 10(a) shows a time history diagram of vibration acceleration at K331 + 315 measuring point when a truck passes by. The vibration response at various depths and the vibration acceleration caused by wheel pairs at different depths at the same time can be clearly seen in the diagram. The vibration acceleration response at 0.5 m away from the surface is greater than that at 1.5–3.5 m, and the vibration acceleration attenuation at 4.5 m is obvious. Figure 10(b) shows the response time history diagram of subgrade vibration acceleration at K330 + 990 measuring point. It can be seen in the diagram that the response of vibration acceleration caused by train passing is consistent from top to bottom. The response time history curve of subgrade vibration acceleration caused by train passing shows periodic variation characteristics with obvious peak and oscillation characteristics, which are excited directly by periodic wheel and axle forces of the train. The peak and valley of the vibration acceleration response at 6.5 m underground are not obvious, and the time history curve is close to the spindle shape. Refraction and reflection occur when the vibration wave reaches this depth, which leads to non-periodicity of vibration.

(a)

(b)

5.3.2. Vibration Attenuation Law

According to the result of vibration direction, the mean and the effective values in Z direction are more significant than those in other two directions. Therefore, the vibration attenuation law of vertical vibration was studied, as seen in Figures 11 and 12.(1)The average value of vibration acceleration at the K330 + 990 subgrade shallow layer (Z = 0.5 m) is 2.45 mm/s², while the corresponding average value of vibration acceleration at the subgrade deep layer (Z = 6.5 m) is only 0.15 mm/s², which reflects the attenuation process of vibration propagation in soil. Due to the dissipation of vibration energy by soil material damping and geometric damping, the vibration acceleration of soil gradually decreases with the increase of depth.(2)Maximum of time history curve of soil vibration acceleration corresponds to load-force time history curve, which reflects the loading characteristics of moving loads of trains. Among them, 0.5–4.5 m has obvious loading characteristics of vibration acceleration time history curve due to its shallow distance to the ground surface, while 6.5 m has no obvious loading characteristics due to its deep distance to the vibration source.(3)The vibration response of different measuring points differs greatly, and the vibration response of the reinforcement section is larger than that of the non-reinforcement section as a whole. For K330 + 990 measuring point, the vibration attenuation is obvious. At 6.5 m depth, the vibration acceleration attenuates to one tenth of the surface; at K331 + 315 measuring point, at 4.5 m depth, the vibration acceleration attenuation is only 50%–60% of the surface.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(a)

(b)

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(f)

6. Discussion

The results of needle subgrade treatment project and on-site monitoring show that the response of vibration acceleration is obviously different before and after subgrade reinforcement. At the same time, the monitoring of the reinforced section and unreinforced diseased section shows that the vibration response of the reinforced section is generally larger than that of the unreinforced section in the same period. Based on the above results, the method of vibration response detection is discussed to detect subgrade diseases.(1)The vibration response near the ballast is obvious and decreases with the increase of the horizontal distance from the rail. Therefore, the ballast can be taken as the measuring point. Considering the actual field conditions such as the width of ballast rail and whether there is a stone shoulder, this position can be taken as a point from the ballast to the middle of the stone shoulder. And the distance is 2.5 m which is more in line with actual engineering.(2)Among the three directions of vibration acceleration, the transverse vibration acceleration is the smallest, followed by the longitudinal vibration acceleration, and the vertical vibration acceleration is the largest. The vibration response curve of the reinforced section is spindle shaped, and the vertical vibration acceleration response attenuates obviously at 6.5 m depth, only about 10% to 30% of the surface. The vibration acceleration of the subgrade at 4.5 m decreases to more than 60% of the surface, while that of the unreinforced section attenuates to 50%–60% of the surface at 4.5 m.

7. Conclusion

At present, the conventional methods for evaluating subgrade diseases mainly include the stiff-plate bearing test, cone penetration test, dynamic penetration test, and ground-penetrating radar. But these disease detections have limitations for the disease detection of existing line. In this paper, vibration response tests were carried out at different positions and depths of the damaged subgrade of the existing railway before and after reinforcement improvement, and some conclusions are as follows:(1)The vibration response near the ballast is obvious and decreases with the increase of the horizontal distance from the rail. Considering the actual situation, it is reasonable to take 2.5 m distance from rail as the measuring point.(2)The response of vibration acceleration before and after subgrade reinforcement changes significantly.(3)The vibration acceleration of the reinforced subgrade at 4.5 m decreases more than 60% of the surface, while that of the vibration acceleration of the unreinforced section attenuates to only 50%–60% of the surface.

Data Availability

The test data used to support the findings of this study are included within the article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Sichuan Province Science and Technology Support Program (grant nos. 2021YFS0321, 2020YJ0253, and 2020YFSY0060). The authors also gratefully acknowledge Southwest Jiaotong University for support. The authors appreciate all the institutions and individuals that have provided support for this study.

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Copyright © 2021 Junyun Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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