Abstract
As train speeds increase on existing rail networks, and new high-speed routes are constructed, the likelihood of a line experiencing the large track displacements commonly termed critical velocity effects increases. The phenomenon occurs as the train speed approaches the speed of surface (Rayleigh) waves in the underlying ground. At a certain proportion of this speed the track deflections begin to increase above those for static loading, slowly at first and then more rapidly, reaching a maximum at a “critical” velocity. Larger trackbed deflections may cause increased rates of track deterioration, maintenance needs and in the worst cases risks to safety. Therefore, it is important to be able to predict which sites are susceptible to critical velocity effects and to determine threshold speeds below which they are not influential. Where these thresholds are exceeded mitigation measures can be considered. Reliable prediction of critical velocity effects using numerical modelling and other analytical tools require selection of a representative ground model and parameters. This paper describes a programme of site measurements, sampling and advanced laboratory testing to create a ground model for a site on the UK railway network known to experience critical velocity effects.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Madshus C, Kaynia AM (2000) High-speed railway lines on soft ground: dynamic behaviour at critical train speed. J Sound Vib 231(3):689–701
Hunt GA (1994) Analysis of requirements for railway construction on soft ground. Technical Report LR TM 031. British Rail Research, London, UK
Woldringh R, New B (1999) Embankment design for high speed trains on soft soils. In: Twelfth European conference on soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, ‘geotechnical engineering for transport infrastructure’. Balkema, Amsterdam.
Powrie W, Yang LA, Clayton CRI (2007) Stress changes in the ground below ballasted railway track during train passage. J. Rail and Rapid Transit 221(2):247–261
Brough M, Sharpe P, Hoffman A (2013) Investigation, design and remediation of critical velocity sites—a desk study. In: Railway engineering 2013—12th international conference & exhibition. London
Alves Costa P, Calçada R, Silva Cardoso A, Bodare A (2010) Influence of soil non-linearity on the dynamic response of high-speed railway tracks. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 30(4):221–235
Shih JY, Thompson DJ, Zervos A (2017) The influence of soil nonlinear properties on the track/ground vibration induced by trains running on soft ground. Transp Geotech 11:1–16
Woodward PK, Laghrouche O, Mezher SB, Connolly DP (2015) Application of coupled train-track modelling of critical speeds for high-speed trains using three-dimensional non-linear finite elements. Int J Railway Technol 4(3):1–35
Connolly DP, Kouroussis G, Giannopoulos A, Verlinden O, Woodward PK, Forde MC (2014) Assessment of railway vibrations using an efficient sco** model. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 58:37–47
Sheng X, Jones CJC, Thompson DJ (2003) A comparison of a theoretical model for quasi-statically and dynamically induced environmental vibration from trains with measurements. J Sound Vib 267(3):621–635
Richart FE (1962) Foundation vibrations. Trans ASCE 127(1):863–898
Duley A, Le Pen L, Thompson DJ, Powrie W, Watson GVR, Musgrave P, Cornish A (2015) Critical train speeds and associated track movements: a case study. In: Proceedings of the XVI ECSMGE geotechnical engineering for infrastructure and development, ICE Publishing, Edinburgh, UK, pp 253–258
Terzaghi K, Peck RB (1948) Soil mechanics in engineering practice. Wiley, Hoboken
USACE (1994) Engineering manual EM 110-2-2504
Priest JA (2004) The effects of methane gas hydrate on the dynamic properties of a sand. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Southampton.
Clayton CRI, Priest JA, Bui M, Zervos A, Kim SG (2007) The Stokoe resonant column apparatus: effects of stiffness, mass and specimen fixity. Geotechnique 59(5):429–437
Kallioglou P, Koninis G, Tika T, Pitilakis K (2008) ‘Shear Modulus and Dam** Ratio of Organic Soils’, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering
Duley A (2018) Soil parameters for modelling critical velocity effects of railways. EngD Thesis, University of Southampton
Acknowledgements
The work described in this paper was funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and HS2 Ltd. as part of the Track Systems for High Speed Railways: Getting It Right project (EP/K03765X). The site access was also facilitated by Network Rail and AECOM who assisted with historical records and the site investigation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Duley, A., Madhusudhan, B.N., Le Pen, L., Thompson, D., Powrie, W. (2022). Assessing the Risk of Critical Velocity Effects at Railway Sites Using Site Investigation and Advanced Laboratory Testing. In: Tutumluer, E., Nazarian, S., Al-Qadi, I., Qamhia, I.I. (eds) Advances in Transportation Geotechnics IV. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 166. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77238-3_65
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77238-3_65
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-77237-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-77238-3
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)