Modelling of railway embankment stabilized with geotextile, geo-foam, and waste aggregates

Abstract

This paper investigates the significance of using different combinations of geotextile, geo-foam, and construction and demolition waste for the reinforcement of soft clay soil. The vertical deformations of railway embankments were determined under a moving train load of 125 kN using the commercially available software package ABAQUS. It is also investigated the effect of train speed on the predicted vertical deformation. 3D numerical modelling was conducted using different depths of geo-foam coated at the top surface by a layer of geotextile. Finite element analysis (FEA) using the Modified Cam-Clay model was performed and is divided into two categories: general static analysis and dynamic analysis. The results showed the reinforcement of soft clay with C&D, geo-foam coated with geotextile reduced the predicted vertical deformations. The results reported that the geotextile combined with the goe-foam were effective in reducing the values of vertical deformation and stresses under the application of moving loads. In general, the values of vertical deformations for different reinforcement scenarios were was 50 % less than the resulted deformation in the case of untreated soil. It is also recommended to use the construction and demolition waste to reinforce of weak soils, which consider a good alternative for natural resources.