Influence of hydrogeological and hydrological factors on stability of railways in areas of permafrost distribution (example of Far East Road, Russia)

Abstract

In 2019, the Institute of Permafrost of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Natural Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences concluded the agreements on joint research work. They decided to study the evolution of frozen soils at the base of roads and the territory adjacent to them, as well as to justify a set of measures to stabilize the permafrost situation. The works provide the study of the reaction of permafrost along the routes of railway lines in Russia and China. In Russia, the parties are examining in detail individual sections of the Far Eastern and Trans-Baikal railways. We present the results of surveys on one of these sections: a segment of the track dedicated to the Tynda station of the Far Eastern Railway. The object of research is very indicative from the point of the need to assess the dynamics of geocryological conditions in the strip of long-term operated linear structures. Here, the deformations of the roadbed have been manifested almost since the end of its construction (1974). Despite the implementation of several technical solutions in the form of cooling structures aimed at maintaining the soil temperature at the base of the structure in a frozen state, at present, the road is still subject to deformations. According to the current research results, it was revealed that the main reason for their occurrence is the flooding of the territory due to both natural and anthropogenic factors.