engleski

Site characterization in road and rail transportation projects

The understanding of soil characteristics and conditions in geotechnical engineering depends on the scope and quality of geotechnical investigation works. Roads and railways are line structures, thus it is irrational and almost impossible to carry out geotechnical investigation works to the extent which would allow for reliable defining of characteristics and condition of basic structural material. Such materials can significantly vary along the transportation routes, depending on the complexity of geological formations. The design of transportation routes requires a different approach which implies that a design process is not completed in the design office basing on the results of concluded geotechnical investigation works. The studies aiming to define soil condition and characteristics are an integral part of the design process which is going to continue during the execution of the works. Geotechnical investigation works for transportation structures are intended to collect data on soil and rock mass along potential and selected transportation route, essential for a detailed description of basic properties of soil, rock, and ground waters, and for a reliable determination of characteristic values for a geotechnical design. Geotechnical works are preceded by seismotectonic, geophysical, geologic and hydro geologic investigations. With regard to the line character and potential long distances of transportation structures, the site investigations gets more and more important. Soil and rock are investigated in natural surroundings, on a large mass. There is no need to apply expensive methods to get samples for laboratory testings. It is possible to obtain continual data on soil and rock according to depth. Testing procedures are fast, comparatively cheap, and simple in most cases. The paper deals with different approaches and methods of determining the strength and stiffness parameters for geotechnical design and construction of roads and railways. The paper highlights Croatian experience gained in construction of modern transportation routes over the last fifteen years.

site characterisation; soil; rock; geotechnical engineering

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