3D numerical modeling of a rigid inclusion reinforced railway embankment under cyclic loading

Abstract

Rigid inclusion reinforcements of embankments are increasingly used in traffic route engineering to ensure the long-term system sustainability and to enhance the soft subsoils load-bearing capacity under static and cyclic loading conditions in an economical and practical way. This paper presents a three-dimensional numerical finite difference model to assess the performance of a rigid inclusion reinforced railway embankment subjected to cyclic loading. A slice model of the railway embankment is considered based on full-scale physical tests. The advanced elasto-plastic SANISAND constitutive model is considered for the granular layer in the rigid inclusion reinforced railway embankment. The responses of the system under cyclic loading are outlined concerning settlements, stress distribution and axial–flexural response of the rigid inclusions.