Abstract:
This paper presented comparative analysis of design solutions of a reinforced railroad
embankment using various calculation methods. To conduct a detailed comparative analysis, a remote part of
the projected railway line in South Kazakhstan was selected. Embankment has five sections, four sections
reinforced by geogrid, one of them without reinforced layer. The studies of geotechnical conditions concentrate
on the top most silt or silty clay due to of upper soil is underlain by a stiff to very stiff clay till which is heavily
over consolidated. As the main load case, railway loads were considered in accordance with the current
regulatory documents SP RK EN 1991. For preliminary design of unreinforced embankment as many available
calculation methods as possible were considered in order to obtain the most unfavorable values of safety factors.
A detailed analysis using finite element method was performed to check the results of standard calculation
methods to ensure safety of the embankment.
