NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM HIGH-SPEED TRAINS. CHAPTER 11. HIGH-SPEED TRAINS ON SOFT GROUND: TRACK-EMBANKMENT-SOIL RESPONSE AND VIBRATION GENERATION

The phenomena and problems met with when train speed approaches an apparent critical value determined by wave propagation velocities in the ground and in an embankment were studied on a high-speed train service newly operated on an existing track on the west coast of southern Sweden. The line passes through several sites containing soft clay and on some of these sites large rolling vibrations of the track, embankment and trackside ground were observed when trains passed at speeds near 200 km/h. Instrumented test runs to record and interpret the actual response of the track, the embankment and the surrounding soil were carried out 24 km south of Gothenburg on clay soils using an X-2000 high speed tilting train with a locomotive and four passenger carriages at speeds of 70-250 km/h. A numerical prediction tool which is able to simulate the test results is presented. Countermeasures suggested include strengthening the ground under the embankment and stiffening the embankment. The prediction of nuisance vibration is discussed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E109863.