Experimental and Numerical Study of the Dynamic Response of XCC Pile–Raft Foundation under High-Speed Train Loads

Abstract

A series of dynamic large-scale model tests and three-dimensional finite element analyses were conducted to investigate the dynamic response of track embankment and XCC pile-raft composite foundation in soft soil for a ballastless high-speed railway under moving train loads. The results indicate that the vibration velocity obtained from the FE numerical simulation agrees well with that from the model test in vibration waveform, amplitude, and frequency characteristics. The peak values corresponding to the passing frequency of train carriage geometry (lc = 25 m), bogie (lab = 7.5 m), and axle distance (lwb = 2.5 m) respectively reflect the characteristic frequencies of the train compartment, adjacent bogie, and wheel load passing through. The peak velocity significantly depends on the distance from the track center in the horizontal direction, of which the attenuation follows the exponential curve distribution. The vibration velocities decrease rapidly within embankment, show a vibration enhancement region from raft to the 1 m depth of foundation soil, then decreases gradually along the subsoil foundation, to a very low level at the bottom of the subsoil, which is much lower than that at the track slab and roadbed. The pile-raft composite foundation can reduce the vibration level effectively and improve the safety of trains running in soft soil areas.