Transportation Geotechnics最新文献

{"title":"Numerical investigation of electrokinetic geosynthetics-assisted vacuum preloading combined with electroosmosis for consolidation and remediation of dredged sediments","authors":"Jianting Feng,&nbsp;Yuze Tao,&nbsp;Yang Shen,&nbsp;Wencheng Qi,&nbsp;Hao Cai,&nbsp;Kewei Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101930","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101930","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combination of vacuum preloading and electroosmosis (VPE) enables simultaneous consolidation and remediation of dredged sediments, supporting the sustainable development of global dredging industry. However, the lack of a coupled model for dredged sediments improvement under VPE has become an obstacle to the optimisation of VPE. Therefore, a coupled model integrating electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical fields was established in this study. The numerical simulations using different consolidation equations were compared with the experimental results, including electric field intensity, excess pore water pressure, settlement, and Cu concentrations. The results indicated that the adoption of Biot’s consolidation equation in the coupled model enabled a more accurate prediction of dredged sediments consolidation and remediation performance. The numerical simulations further revealed that a lower electric potential combined with a longer treatment time resulted in a more uniform treatment effect, whereas a higher electric potential combined with a shorter treatment time accelerated Cu removal. The removal of pollutants in the deeper dredged sediment layers was markedly enhanced as the applied vacuum pressure increased. An early intervention of vacuum pressure enhanced the consolidation of dredged sediments; however, this effect gradually diminished as the treatment progressed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101930"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Active stability and probabilistic estimation of tunnel face in spatially variable and anisotropic soils","authors":"Chen Guang-Hui ,&nbsp;Zou Jin-Feng ,&nbsp;Jin Jun-Wei ,&nbsp;Chen Jian ,&nbsp;Shu Ji-Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101917","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101917","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to develop an analytical approach for assessing the 3D active stability and failure probability of the tunnel face in spatially variable and anisotropic soils. An advanced failure mechanism based on discrete failure boundaries is first developed using the rigorous discretization technique. By taking the soil strata inclination as a priori condition, a non-stationary random field is proposed to represent the soil spatial variation. Comprehensive mathematical formulations are derived to denote the soil anisotropy. By incorporating spatially variable and anisotropic soils into the advanced failure mechanism, the critical support pressure and critical failure surface are determined to check the face stability using the limit analysis method. The proposed approach is validated through comparative analyses with analytical and numerical solutions. A systematic parametric investigation is then performed to discuss the effects of anisotropic and random field parameters on the face stability. Subsequently, the failure probability is derived under a specified supporting pressure, and a series of charts are provided to discuss the influence of random field parameters on the failure probability. The analysis results reveal that the proposed approach can be served as a reference methodology for the stability and probabilistic analysis of tunnel face under complex geotechnical scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101917"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Image-traced flow behavior and frequency-dependent response of ballasted trackbed under dynamic loads","authors":"Yachen Wu ,&nbsp;Zuochuan Xie ,&nbsp;Xuecheng Bian ,&nbsp;Yunmin Chen ,&nbsp;Chuang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The continuous movement of ballast particles beneath the sleeper under long-term dynamic train loads is a primary factor contributing to the development of trackbed settlement, which becomes more pronounced under high-speed train operations. However, due to the concealed nature of such phenomenon, it is challenging to observe experimentally. In this study, a full-scale model test incorporating image-assisted measurement techniques was conducted. Approximately 1000 dyed ballast particles of varying sizes were uniformly distributed over a representative section of the trackbed as tracer particles. A combination of digital and high-speed cameras (recording at 1000 frames per second) was used to capture and analyze the trajectories of ballast particles under varying train speeds, axle loads and long-term loading conditions. The testing results indicate that the ballast layer remained in a stable state with limited particle migration when the loading frequency was below 15 Hz (equivalent to 273 km/h). However, once this threshold was exceeded, ballast migration increased sharply, accompanied by a noticeable loss of stability. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the axle load amplitude and the extent of ballast flow. For axle loads below 8 tons, ballast migration was primarily governed by contact forces between the ballast particles. Beyond this limit, movement near the sleeper end increased sharply, indicating a shift in the controlling mechanism from contact force dominance to interaction between contact forces and boundary constraints. The varying constraint conditions then caused regionalized flow pattern beneath the sleeper, leading to non-uniform compaction within the trackbed. Furthermore, this process induced a characteristic periodic settlement development of the sleeper. The initial stage was marked by rapid settlement due to particle rearrangement. This was followed by a second increase in the settlement rate as the high-frequency energy input caused the particle skeleton to disintegrate. Finally, as a new stable skeleton formed, the settlement approached a shakedown state without further significant development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101926"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-objective optimization design based on surrogate modelling for concrete column-supported embankment on soft ground","authors":"Boyang Xia ,&nbsp;Meng Wei ,&nbsp;Gang Zheng ,&nbsp;Haizuo Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optimizing column arrangements is a complex task in column-supported embankment design, because it requires balancing multiple performance objectives and cost. Consequently, a comprehensive optimization framework is essential for identifying the optimal column configuration during the design process. This study developed a multi-objective optimization approach for designing column arrangements to support embankments constructed on soft ground. The proposed approach integrates both sequential surrogate methods and adaptive evolutionary algorithms to predict and optimize column arrangements in column-supported embankment design. The proposed optimization framework was applied to a practical embankment project at the Xingxing interchange section. Four objective functions were defined using the global stability (<em>F</em>_s), maximum total settlement and differential settlement of the embankment surface (<em>S</em>_t, <em>S</em>_d), and cost of the concrete columns (<em>C</em>). Evaluation of the results confirmed the excellent prediction accuracy of the proposed method. Besides, compared with the original design, the optimal design achieved a 17% increase in <em>F</em>_s, and 4%, 0.39%, and 10% reduction in <em>S</em>_t, <em>S</em>_d, and <em>C</em>, respectively. The proposed optimization framework and its outcomes offer a practical strategy for optimizing investments in transportation embankment projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101918"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative assessment of the bearing capacity of unselected construction and demolition waste aggregates in unbound and cement-stabilised pavement subbases","authors":"Luca Tefa,&nbsp;Marco Bassani","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101921","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101921","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using unselected construction and demolition waste (UCDW) aggregate helps the road construction industry to meet sustainability requirements. Although the use of recycled UCDW aggregates is increasingly recognised and adopted in practice, there remains limited field evidence directly comparing their performance with that of natural (NAT) aggregates in unbound and cement-stabilised subbases. This study compared the bearing capacity of four 30-cm subbases (unbound and 3% cement-stabilised NAT and UCDW) using lightweight deflectometer and plate loading tests on an experimental road. The study was complemented by laboratory resilient modulus and indirect tensile strength measurements on specimens compacted during the construction activities.</div><div>On average, the surface modulus of unbound UCDW materials was 16% higher than that of natural aggregates. Stabilisation with 3% cement significantly increased the bearing capacity sevenfold for UCDW materials and tenfold for NAT materials. After three days of curing, the average surface modulus increased from 112.3–126.6 MPa for unbound UCDW and 95.2–111.6 MPa for unbound NAT, to 884.7–1024.6 MPa for cement-stabilised UCDW and 1064.3–1198.1 MPa for cement-stabilised NAT. Unlike the field tests, where cement-stabilised NAT performed slightly better than cement-stabilised UCDW, the laboratory tests showed that cement-stabilised UCDW mixtures had a higher resilient modulus than cement-stabilised natural ones. These results demonstrate that UCDW aggregates can effectively replace natural ones in the formation of unbound or cement–stabilised road subbase layers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101921"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of slaking behavior on the shear strength, swelling capacity, and crack evolution of mudstone","authors":"Danxi Sun ,&nbsp;Guojun Cai ,&nbsp;Yiqing Sun ,&nbsp;Yan Feng ,&nbsp;Gaofeng Pan ,&nbsp;Hao Wang ,&nbsp;Qi Tao","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101919","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101919","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Excavation of cut slopes and tunnels generates substantial quantities of mudstone waste. To reduce construction costs and accelerate project timelines, this waste material has been utilized as fill in expressway embankments. In this study, the engineering performance of mudstone waste was evaluated through a series of slaking, direct shear, swelling strain, and crack development tests. The experimental results demonstrate that vertical stress intensifies slaking behavior by promoting particle breakage. As slaking progresses, the shear strength of mudstone progressively decreases, primarily because the increasing fraction of fine particles disrupts the formation of load-bearing force chains between coarse grains. Swelling strain exhibits a nonmonotonic evolution: it initially decreases as particle breakage and rearrangement reduce the swelling capacity, but subsequently increases owing to the accumulation of finer particles with higher swelling potential. In addition, contacts between coarse and fine particles act as structural weak points that strongly influence crack propagation. The breakage of coarse particles during slaking process reduces the number of such weak interfaces and thereby modifies the crack pattern. Although the overall crack ratio remains constant, the cracks network undergoes a morphological transition towards shorter, wider cracks. These findings provide critical insight into the long-term deformation and failure mechanisms of embankments constructed with mudstone fill and offer a basis for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective utilization of mudstone waste in construction applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101919"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of thermal–mechanical responses of resonant rubblized concrete pavement system with asphalt overlay under diverse climatic conditions","authors":"Liyuan Liu ,&nbsp;Jie Deng ,&nbsp;Huailei Cheng ,&nbsp;Kaili Hao ,&nbsp;Lijun Sun ,&nbsp;Miomir Miljković ,&nbsp;Chen Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101923","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101923","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Resonant rubblization technique has been widely used to for the rehabilitation of concrete pavements with asphalt overlay, due to its advantage in reducing reflective cracking of overlay layer. Conventional studies mainly focus on investigating mechanical responses of rubblized concrete pavement system under traffic loads, while this study systematically investigates the pavement’s thermal responses when subjected to environmental temperature variations. Finite element (FE) models were developed for both resonant rubblized and conventional (unrubblized) concrete pavements with asphalt overlay. These models were validated against field-measured data, with the correlation coefficient between the simulated and measured data reaching 0.827. On the basis of the validated models, a comparative analysis was conducted to examine the thermal responses of the two pavement systems under diverse climatic conditions, including daily temperature variations, abrupt temperature changes, and constant temperature gradients. The results demonstrate that the tensile stresses and strains in the asphalt overlay of rubblized pavements are substantially lower than those in conventional pavements. The reduction in stress/strain is most pronounced at the bottom of asphalt overlay adjacent to the original cement slab, where the maximum tensile stress is reduced to approximately 35% of that observed in the unrubblized pavement, thereby effectively suppressing the initiation and propagation of reflective cracking. Furthermore, cold regions—characterized by larger daily temperature ranges—exhibit more pronounced temperature gradients within the pavement, resulting in more severe fluctuations in thermal responses compared with hot regions. For abruptly temperature-changing conditions, the rubblized pavement also exhibits a more uniform stress distribution and superior structural stability than conventional pavement. Besides, the thermal displacement of the rubblized pavement is only 20% of that of the concrete slabs in conventional pavement, revealing that the rubblization is beneficial in mitigating thermal-induced displacement of original concrete slab and thus reducing the reflective cracking in asphalt overlay. Findings of this research is expected to guide the analysis and design of rubblized concrete pavement system across diverse climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101923"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Damage mechanism of double-block ballastless track on subgrade under coupled complex loads","authors":"Xuhao Cui ,&nbsp;Yapeng Liu ,&nbsp;Bowen Du ,&nbsp;Hong Xiao ,&nbsp;Lei Xu ,&nbsp;Zhihai Zhang ,&nbsp;Yang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101912","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101912","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>When CRTS I double-block ballastless track is subjected to coupled loads such as differential subgrade settlement (DSS) and temperature gradients (TG), its mechanical response is significantly affected, making it difficult to guarantee railway operational efficiency and safety. This study established a detailed finite element model of the CRTS I double-block ballastless track on subgrade, which integrates the concrete damage plasticity model and the cohesive zone model. With DSS and TG taken as initial conditions, the changes in track geometry and structural damage before and after the application of train loads were examined. The findings indicate that under the influence of TG and DSS, damage to the supporting layer initiates at the lower surface, while the initial damage location of the track slab is influenced by the positive or negative nature of TG. When the negative TG acts together with DSS, more severe structural deformation and damage occur. Under negative TG, the maximum vertical rail deformation and the settlement threshold corresponding to full damage of the supporting layer are 1.57 times and 80% of those under the positive TG, respectively. The application of train loads further accelerates the progression of damage and deformation in the track structure, decreasing the settlement threshold for complete damage under the positive TG from 25 mm to 20 mm, while the maximum rail deformation increases by 33.1%. This study provides a theoretical basis for damage identification and the refinement of settlement control criteria for ballastless tracks in complex loading environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101912"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biocementation of road pavements: An experimental investigation through physical modeling and accelerated testing","authors":"Tianzheng Fu,&nbsp;Stuart Kenneth Haigh","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biocementation, owing to its non-intrusive nature, holds great promise as a non-disruptive solution for improving road pavements, particularly for rehabilitating those experiencing deterioration. The present study provides a direct proof of concept for this application. Full-depth physical models of a three-layer pavement structure, uncemented and biocemented, were constructed and subjected to accelerated testing under increasing wheel loads, with laser scanning and particle image velocimetry (PIV) combined to monitor surface and subsurface deformation. The results showed that both models exhibited a depression in the wheel path and an upheave on the side. The enhanced structural integrity of the biocemented model allowed it to experience significantly reduced deformation while sustaining higher loads. PIV analysis of subsurface displacement and strain fields revealed distinct deformation mechanisms. The uncemented model experienced localized failure within the poorly compacted base with a predominantly contractive response, while the biocemented model involved an active, vertically displacing zone beneath the wheel that underwent volumetric dilation, which was laterally confined by a passive zone on the side. These findings clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of biocementation in improving the structural performance of pavements. However, low treatment efficiency under unsaturated conditions presents a critical challenge for field implementation and warrants further investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101913"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Damage mechanism of high-pier high-speed railway track-bridge system under debris flow impact","authors":"Yujie Yu ,&nbsp;Zhewei Fang ,&nbsp;Yichuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhipeng Lai ,&nbsp;Lizhong Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101911","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.101911","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Debris flow disasters pose an increasing threat to bridges, but the damage effect of debris flow impact on high-speed railway track-bridge systems is still not fully understood. This study conducted a comprehensive investigation into the dynamic response, damage evolution, and failure sequence of a CRTS II slab track-bridge system with high piers under debris flow impact. The effects of varying debris flow velocities and impact heights on the damage modes of key structural components, including bridge piers, bearings, sliding layers, and rails, were analyzed in detail. Results indicated that the debris flow acted on the bridge system by inducing pier bending and excessive pier-top lateral deformation, which propagated upward to the bridge and track structures. Peak deformation envelopes along the bridge were generally symmetric. However, the system exhibited significant asymmetric damage and residual deformation, which were mainly attributed to the non-uniform constraint effects of shear alveolars. The fixed bearing at the abutment was prone to early failure, thereby leading to lateral movement of the main girder. Sliding layer damage was concentrated in areas near longitudinal sliding bearings without the shear alveolar. The rails showed asymmetric stepped deformation under the debris flow impacts. A moderate modification of shear alveolars can hardly alleviate the impact damage. Increasing the fixed bearing stiffness at the abutment can restrain the lateral movement of the girder and reduce abnormal rail irregularity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56013,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Geotechnics","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101911"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}