Dynamic Live Load Effects of Railroads on Retaining Walls and Temporary Shoring (not yet awarded)
Retaining walls and temporary shoring in proximity to railroads experience a stress distribution that varies with depth. Current models of this distribution do not consider the cohesive behavior of some soils and assume that the soil remains in contact with the wall throughout loading. The goal of this research is to create a better linear-elastic model of the stress distribution due to cohesive soils in order to improve the design process. In turn, railroad organizations can implement more efficient designs that save overall costs.
(Sponsor: USDOT)