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Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering)  2012, Vol. 13 Issue (11): 814-824    DOI: 10.1631/jzus.A12ISGT7
Articles     
Investigation of differential movement at railroad bridge approaches through geotechnical instrumentation
Debakanta Mishra, Erol Tutumluer, Timothy D. Stark, James P. Hyslip, Steven M. Chrismer, Michael Tomas
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA; HyGround Engineering, LLC, Williamsburg, Massachusetts, USA; National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), Philadelphia, USA
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Abstract  Railway transitions experience differential movements due to differences in track system stiffness, track damping characteristics, foundation type, ballast settlement from fouling and/or degradation, as well as fill and subgrade settlement. This differential movement is especially problematic for high speed rail infrastructure as the ‘bump’ at the transition is accentuated at high speeds. Identification of different factors contributing towards this differential movement, as well as development of design and maintenance strategies to mitigate the problem is imperative for the safe and economical operation of both freight and passenger rail networks. This paper presents the research framework and initial instrumentation details from an ongoing research effort at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Three bridge approaches experiencing recurrent geometry problems were instrumented using multidepth deflectometers (MDDs) and strain gages to identify different factors contributing to the development of differential movements.

Key wordsTrack transition      Differential movement      Bridge approach      Multidepth deflectometer (MDD)      Bump at the end of the bridge      Strain gage     
Received: 27 September 2012      Published: 25 October 2012
CLC:  U24  
  TU4  
Cite this article:

Debakanta Mishra, Erol Tutumluer, Timothy D. Stark, James P. Hyslip, Steven M. Chrismer, Michael Tomas. Investigation of differential movement at railroad bridge approaches through geotechnical instrumentation. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering), 2012, 13(11): 814-824.

URL:

http://www.zjujournals.com/xueshu/zjus-a/10.1631/jzus.A12ISGT7     OR     http://www.zjujournals.com/xueshu/zjus-a/Y2012/V13/I11/814

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