Analysis of stability of railway embankment including horizontal forces in light of Eurocode

Abstract

The subject of this paper is analysis of the influence of horizontal forces estimated on the basis of Eurocode on the stability of an exemplary railway embankment located in the horizontal curve. The work begins with an overview of the methods for determining the earthworks stability. The methods are presented along with a reference to the recommendations contained in Eurocode 7. On the basis of the Eurocode, the loads acting on the analyzed embankment are presented together. In addition to the standard vertical interactions (from the rolling stock, the weight of the track structure and ground), the calculations also take into account horizontal forces caused by: wind forces on rolling stock, centrifugal forces and nosing force of the rolling stock as well as thermal stresses in the rails. Next, there are 15 load combinations calculated according to the Eurocode guidelines. At the end of the work the values of safety factors of the embankment obtained by shear strength reduction method are presented. The obtained results show a significant influence of horizontal forces calculated on the basis of the Eurocode on the stability of the railway embankment analyzed in the work.