• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.980-986
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• 2004

So far systematic and reliable methods for the investigation of track substructure (ballast and subgrade) are not developed yet. This study presents the applicability of GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) and PBS (Portable Ballast Sampler) to the evaluation of railway trackbed conditions. Including FWD (Falling Weight Deflectometer) often used to evaluate the subsurface conditions of pavement, the standard system for assessing trackbed conditions will be developed in the future.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.112-119
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• 2013

A mid-size RC test apparatus (MRCA) equipped with a program is developed that can test samples up to D=10 cm diameter and H=20 cm height which are larger than usual samples used in practice. Using the developed RC test apparatus, two types of crushed trackbed foundation materials were tested in order to get the shear modulus reduction curves of the materials with changing of shear strain levels. For comparison purpose, large repetitive triaxial compression tests (LRT) with samples of height H=60cm and diameter D=30 cm were performed also. Resilient modulus obtained from the LRT was converted to shear modulus by considering elastic theory and strain level conversion and were compared to shear modulus values from the MRCA. It is found from this study that the MRCA can be used to test the trackbed foundation materials properly. It is found also that strain levels of $E_{v2}$ mostly used in the field should be verified considering the shear modulus reduction curves and proper values of $E_{v2}$ of trackbed foundation must be used considering the strain level verified.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.50-54
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• 2015

The primary function of the trackbed in a conventional railway track system is to decrease the stresses in the subgrade to be in an acceptable level. A properly designed trackbed layer performs this task adequately. Many design procedures have used assumed and/or are based on critical stiffness values of the layers obtained mostly in the field to calculate an appropriate thickness of the sublayers of the trackbed foundation. However, those stiffness values do not consider strain levels clearly and precisely in the layers. This study proposes a method of computation of stiffness that can handle with strain level in the layers of the trackbed foundation in order to provide properly selected design values of the stiffness of the layers. The shear modulus values are dependent on shear strain level so that the strain levels generated in the subgrade in the trackbed under wheel loading and below plate of Repeated Plate Bearing Test (RPBT) are investigated by finite element analysis program ABAQUS and PLAXIS programs. The strain levels generated in the subgrade from RPBT are compared to those values from RC (Resonant Column) test after some consideration of strain levels and stress consideration. For comparison of shear modulus G obtained from RC test and stiffness moduli $E_{v2}$ obtained from RPBT in the field, many numbers of mid-size RC tests in laboratory and RPBT in field were performed extensively. It was found in this study that there is a big difference in stiffness modulus when the converted $E_{v2}$ values were compared to those values of RC test. It is verified in this study that it is necessary to use precise and increased loading steps to construct nonlinear curves from RPBT in order to get correct $E_{v2}$ values in proper strain levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2011

It is difficult to clarify the dynamic response characteristics of trackbed because of various environmental conditions. However, track irregularity be affected by ununiformed bearing capacity and its dynamic response, study for dynamic response characteristics is required to investigate the cause of track irregularity and countermeasure. In this paper, the response variation for dominant frequency and vibration energy by trackbed structure and material stiffness are investigated. The analysis section is two layered ground structure that is comprised of trackbed and soft rock. This structure amplifies the energy of dominant range easily. It is evaluated to affect track irregularity on comparing by theoritical, analytical and empirical method for dynamic response of the trackbed.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

The vibration-attenuation was quantitatively compared by 3-Dimensional finite element analysis using ABAQUS, with respect to the change of the type of trackbed systems. Most common trackbed materials, including ballast and concrete were applied to the track structure, and the train-speed was set as 300km/h as Korea Train eXpress (KTX). The result of current study revealed that the ballast showed the most effective material for the vibration attenuation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2011

Recently a limited section of trackbed with ballast at KTX railway were reported to have settled down and led to problems such as reduced speed and passenger discomfort. Therefore, an urgent remedy for the settled trackbed is required to recover normal operation of KTX trains. In this paper, a new technique is proposed to visualize the elastic modulus of cross sections at railway trackbeds under ballast for practical identification of potential settlement. The proposed technique is based on ICSW technique, enabling use of impact source and overcoming inherent limitations of CSW method. To verify validity and feasibility of the proposed method, the method was employed to construct cross-sectional images of elastic modulus of two railway trackbeds and compared with other tests such as SASW, PBT, DCP and portable FWD tests.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2014

In this study, permanent deformation of asphalt trackbed was investigated by performing repetitive load test on specimen made with dense graded asphalt mixture that was specially prepared for asphalt trackbed foundation. The obtained test results were compared with those computed from the prediction model proposed by AASHTO 2002, called MEPDG. No prediction model adaptable only for permanent deformation of the asphalt trackbed foundation has yet been developed, so the prediction model by AASHTO was adapted in this study to simulate permanent deformation of trackbed foundations in asphalt slab track and in ballasted asphalt track. In order to simulate permanent deformation, a finite element analysis was performed to obtain stresses generated in trackbed due to wheel load. It was found that the predicted permanent deformation was much smaller than the anticipated deformation and that the asphalt track could be stable during the service life of the structure.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2013

In this study, cyclic triaxial tests were carried out with the coarse granular materials used in Korean railway infrastructure (reinforced trackbed, gravel of transition zone, upper subgrade of railway) and Young's modulus for the target materials in small strain level were suggested. And the result of elastic modulus suggested in this study is expected to be effectively applied to dynamic analysis of the railway embankment structure using similar material, since the grain size distributions and unit weight of the material tested in this study are specified in Korean Railway Design Criteria.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.2821-2829
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• 2011

Since the KTX was in operation in 2004, a number of researches on increasing the train speed have been conducted. Currently, the Honam High-speed train system is designed for the operation velocity of 350km/h. The societal demand expects higher operation speed, whereas the existing construction method and design specification are questioned in the KTX operation in the velocity over 350 km/h. In this study, a full-scale model test was conducted to obtain the preliminary data that is necessary to understand deformation characteristics of the reinforced road bed and the subgrade layers. In the full-scale model test, direct arrival seismic tests, crosshole seimic test, in-situ bender element test and sensing bar test were employed to measure the stiffness and deformation of the trackbed. The systematic analysis on the different set of measurements enhances the understanding of the behavior of the trackbed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.334-341
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• 2008

Ballast track needs maintenance works because it is supported by the compressible trackbed and subgrade layers. Maintenance works are essential to secure riding comfort and extend the life cycle of it. The necessities of maintenance works are determined from track irregularities measured by EM120. Track irregularities is the results of the track deformation. Therefore, it is natural to evaluate the cause of it. This paper focuses on the points the track irregularities come from the trackbed and the subgrade. Nondestructive techniques, such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Portable Falling Weight Deflectometer (PFWD) are applied to evaluate the trackbed conditions, ballast layer thickness and vertical track stiffness, in the test section 500m long of Gyungbu line. The trackbed investigation results are compared with the track irregularities measured by EM120 and maintenance works. Conclusively, it was found that some maintenance works were unnecessary on the test section.