Climate driven deterioration of railway earthworks: Effect of embankment and subgrade weathering on railway track performance
Joel Smethurst (Infrastructure) and William Powrie (Infrastructure)
In addition to the effects of the gradual equilibration of pore water pressures (often a loss of suction) over the decades following construction, infrastructure earthworks suffer gradual deterioration through weathering type effects. Mechanisms currently thought to be at least partly responsible include desiccation and cracking of a near surface zone, chemical weathering of the exposed surface, a gradual loss of residual suction in clay cycled between certain limits of water content, and a loss of material strength with strain (strain softening). Building on the ACHILLES programme (www.achilles-grant.org.uk), the project will explore the impact of these weathering mechanisms on the efficacy of an earthwork or subgrade as a railway track support, and the resulting effects on track capability and performance. The project could involve a combination of field investigation, laboratory testing and numerical modelling.
Deep-seated rotational failure of a clay embankment near Edenbridge in Kent, likely caused by steady deterioration of loss of strength within the earthwork
Key skills: Data analysis, experimental work, modelling and simulations
Industry partner: Network Rail
Eligibility: UK rates (subject to match-fund availability)
Start date: May 2023 (subject to match-fund availability)
Application deadline: June 2023
CIVIL, MARITIME
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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
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CIVIL, MARITIME
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
Explore our website:
Contact us:
+44(0)23 8059 5000
+44(0)23 8059 3131
University of Southampton
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department