Evaluation of Design Characteristics in the Reinforced Railroad Subgrade Through the Sensitivity Analysis

By changing from ballasted track to concrete slab track, new type railroad subgrade is strongly required to satisfy strict regulations for displacement limitations of concrete slab track. In this study, sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the design characteristics of new type reinforced railroad subgrade, which could minimize residual settlement after track construction and maintain its function as a permanent railway roadbed under large cyclic load. With developed design program, the safety analysis (circular slip failure, overturning, and sliding) and the evaluation of internal forces developed in structural members (wall and reinforcement) were performed according to vertical installation spacing and stiffness of short and long geotextile reinforcement. Based on this study, we could evaluate the applicabilities of 0.4 H short geogrid length with 0.4 m vertical installation spacing of geotextile as reinforcement and what the ground conditions are for the reinforced railroad subgrade. And also, we could grasp design characteristics of the reinforced railroad subgrade, such as the importance of connecting structure between wall and reinforcement, boundary conditions allowing displacement at wall ends to minimize maximum bending moment of wall.