Physical and numerical modeling of a framed anti-sliding structure for a mountainous railway line

Abstract

To ensure the operational safety of railways in the landslide-prone areas of mountainous regions, a large-scale model test and numerical simulation were conducted to study the bending moment distribution, internal force distribution, deformation development, and crack propagation characteristics of a framed anti-sliding structure (FAS) under landslide thrust up to the point of failure. Results show that the maximum bending moment and its increase rate in the fore pile are greater than those in the rear pile, with the maximum bending moment of the fore pile approximately 1.1 times that of the rear pile. When the FAS fails, the displacement at the top of the fore pile is significantly greater, about 1.27 times that of the rear pile in the experiment. Major cracks develop at locations corresponding to the peak bending moments. Small transverse cracks initially appear on the upper surface at the intersection between the primary beam and rear pile and then spread to the side of the structure. At the failure stage, major cracks are observed at the pil-beam intersections and near the anchor points. Strengthening flexural stiffness at intersections where major cracks occur can improve the overall thrust-deformation coordination of the FAS, thereby maximizing its performance.