Seismic Behavior of Pile Supported Railway Track

Abstract

Verification of nonlinear dynamic numerical analysis was performed using dynamic centrifuge test results for pile supported track under seismic loadings. The numerical analysis models were constructed in the same dimensions with the centrifuge tests in prototype scale. Verification was conducted by comparing the measurement data obtained from the centrifuge test and numerical analysis output directly. Total 4 different numerical models corresponding centrifuge test are verified with changing thickness of soft soil layer, embankment, input motion intensity and history. Numerical analyses were conducted in time domain by an explicit time integration method. Dynamic hysteretic damping model was adopted for nonlinearity behavior of soil under seismic excitation. The piles were modeled with shell element that can show interface behavior with surrounding soils. The other structural members are modeled in a hexahedron solid element that has an interface. Seismic responses of the pile supported track were quite similar for both numerical analysis and centrifuge test.