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A. Alenius¹, A. Nilsson¹, J. Dijkstra¹ and K. Nasrollahi²

¹Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Division of Geology and Geotechnics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
²Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Division of Structural Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

doi:10.4203/ccc.15.15.5

A. Alenius, A. Nilsson, J. Dijkstra, K. Nasrollahi, "Influence of Spatial Variability in Soft Soil and Deep-Mixed-Columns on Long-Term Settlement in Railways", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance ", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 15, Paper 15.5, 2026, doi:10.4203/ccc.15.15.5

Keywords: railway settlement, ground improvement, random field, soft soil, vehicle-track-soil interaction, railway track.

Abstract

Railway tracks constructed on soft soils are susceptible to accumulated settlement under repeated traffic loading. Although deep mixed columns (DMCs) are used widely as ground improvement method to stabilise soft soils, the spatial variability of both natural and stabilised soils introduces significant uncertainty. This study investigates the influence of spatial variability in soft soils and DMC on the dynamic response and long-term settlement behaviour of railway tracks. An integrated numerical framework combining dynamic vehicle--track--soil interaction (VTSI) modelling with empirical settlement accumulation models is used. A detailed three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) model is used to evaluate the equivalent substructure stiffness as input to a reduced-order two-dimensional model and dynamic response, while a reduced-order iterative model is adopted for long-term settlement prediction. The spatial variability is represented using random field modelling, and its influence is investigated through a fractional factorial design approach. The results show that DMC reinforcement reduces accumulated settlement and increases track stiffness, while increasing spatial variability in the soil and stabilised soil may lead to local differential settlements along the track alignment.

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Front Page Browse CCC CCP CSETS CTR IJRT Other Authors Search Purchase Guide FAQ Contact us	Civil-Comp Conferences ISSN 2753-3239 CCC: 15 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE Edited by: J. Pombo Paper 15.5 Influence of Spatial Variability in Soft Soil and Deep-Mixed-Columns on Long-Term Settlement in Railways A. Alenius¹, A. Nilsson¹, J. Dijkstra¹ and K. Nasrollahi² ¹Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Division of Geology and Geotechnics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden ²Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Division of Structural Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden doi:10.4203/ccc.15.15.5 Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper A. Alenius, A. Nilsson, J. Dijkstra, K. Nasrollahi, "Influence of Spatial Variability in Soft Soil and Deep-Mixed-Columns on Long-Term Settlement in Railways", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance ", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 15, Paper 15.5, 2026, doi:10.4203/ccc.15.15.5 Keywords: railway settlement, ground improvement, random field, soft soil, vehicle-track-soil interaction, railway track. Abstract Railway tracks constructed on soft soils are susceptible to accumulated settlement under repeated traffic loading. Although deep mixed columns (DMCs) are used widely as ground improvement method to stabilise soft soils, the spatial variability of both natural and stabilised soils introduces significant uncertainty. This study investigates the influence of spatial variability in soft soils and DMC on the dynamic response and long-term settlement behaviour of railway tracks. An integrated numerical framework combining dynamic vehicle--track--soil interaction (VTSI) modelling with empirical settlement accumulation models is used. A detailed three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) model is used to evaluate the equivalent substructure stiffness as input to a reduced-order two-dimensional model and dynamic response, while a reduced-order iterative model is adopted for long-term settlement prediction. The spatial variability is represented using random field modelling, and its influence is investigated through a fractional factorial design approach. The results show that DMC reinforcement reduces accumulated settlement and increases track stiffness, while increasing spatial variability in the soil and stabilised soil may lead to local differential settlements along the track alignment. download the full-text of this paper (PDF, 15 pages, 762 Kb) go to the previous paper go to the next paper return to the table of contents return to the volume description
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