Testing and Analysis of the Vibration Response Characteristics of Heavy-Haul Railway Tunnels and Surrounding Soil with Base Voids

Abstract

This paper discusses research on the dynamic response characteristics of a heavy-haul railway tunnel and the surrounding soil under the conditions of substrate health and a base void. The detection results of the base condition of 20 double-track tunnels for a heavy-haul railway show the main distribution law of base voids. Based on this, a 1:20 scale test model of a heavy-haul railway tunnel is established. The vibration load of the train is established by a vibration exciter arranged at the tunnel invert. The dynamic response and attenuation law of a heavy-haul railway tunnel lining structure and the surrounding soil are tested using acceleration sensors, strain gauges, and soil pressure boxes. The research results show that most of the diseases are concentrated below the heavy-haul line. The base void causes the peak acceleration of the nearby tunnel invert to increase by 55.6%. Tunnel annular construction joints reduce the conductivity of the vibration waves in the axial direction of the tunnel. The acceleration attenuation rate of the soil above the tunnel invert is significantly less than that under the invert. The base void reduces the acceleration of the nearby soil layer by 19.4% and increases the stress on the surface of the nearby tunnel invert by 21.3%, and the stress change amplitude increases by 0.55%. The tunnel structure in the area of the base void experiences fatigue damage. The base void causes the compaction and bearing capacity of the nearby soil to decrease and the softening speed of the tunnel basement soil layer to increase. Therefore, for the basement damage to heavy-haul railway tunnels, “early detection, early treatment” should be performed.