2D Finite Element Modelling of Railway Track

Formation on Poor Strength Soils

By
Ravi Salimath

Date: 06 August 2019

 Railway Track Formation – Design Overview

 Conventional Approach – Analytical solutions from literature

 Operational Experience – Formation thickness recommended based on
subgrade CBR
 Design Guidelines – KiwiRail Formation Design Guideline C–ST–FO-4110.
 2D Finite Element Modelling
- Better understanding of the stress distribution under the sleepers at
different depths
- Evaluation of track settlement
- Understanding relative stiffness between ballast/formation and
formation/subgrade layers
 Effects of cyclic loading on track formation
 Scope for optimization and improved asset performance

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 Railway Track Formation

Figure: Typical Railway Track Section

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 Conventional Design Approach

Figure: Pressure distribution under the sleeper (Sadeghi and Barati, 2010)

Figure: Comparison of plastic settlement with number of cycles

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(Abadi, Pen, Zervos and Powrie (2016))
 Railway Track Model in Plaxis 2D (2018)

Structural
Non-engineered Fill
Formation
(GAP65)

Silty Sand Subgrade

(CBR = 3)

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 Deformations – (Plaxis 2D)

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 Track Formation Settlement under 18Ton Axle Load

Fig. Vertical Fig. Vertical

displacements under displacements under
18Ton Static Axle load 18Ton Static axle
(Silty Sand, c’ = 4kPa, load loading (soft
Phi = 28deg) clay, Su = 40kPa)
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 Vertical Stresses below the Sleeper Under 18Ton Axle Loading
Vertical stress under the
Vertical stress under
ballast at 0.3m depth below
the sleeper
the sleeper

Vertical Stresses at 0.4m depth

below the ballast level

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 Cyclic stress induced settlement of the track

Fig: Cyclic stress induced settlement Fig: Cyclic stress induced settlement
(Das, Yen and Singh (1995)) (Das and Shin (1998))

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 Track Formation
Design

Track settlement under

Subgrade strength Understanding load static axle loading
Assessment – GI transfer mechanism
and Insitu/lab and stress distribution
testing in the ballast, Cyclic load response of
formation and soils
subgrade layers

Prediction of cyclic
stress induced
settlement

Resilient/Cost Effective
Design
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 Conclusions and Discussions

 Finite element modelling helps better understanding the nature and

magnitude of the stress block under the axle loading
 Strength requirements should be checked at the different layers
 Track settlement is largely static for soils with no groundwater table
 Cyclic stresses result in large plastic strains in clays than in sand
 Pore water pressure effects are critical
 Relative stiffness of ballast, sub-ballast, formation and subgrade
should be considered in the design
 Numerical modelling gives more credible information which results in
cost effective design
 Resilient design approach is key to improved asset performance

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