StrataWeb^® geocells strengthens bridge approaches to rail bridge near abutment

Client	West Central Railways
Location	Madhya Pradesh, India
Application	StrataWeb® geocells used for railway-ballast-stabilization
Product used	StrataWeb® geocells, Woven geotextile

The behaviour of the soils beneath the embankment close to abutment is one of the most important factors affecting the performance of bridge approaches. The client was suffering from sinking of bridge approaches due to the impact loads from rail, transitioning off a concrete bridge abutment onto ballasted concrete ties. Settlement of approach to bridges is a common challenge that rail authorities face across the country.

1. Differential settlement between concrete bridge and approach (resting on earthen embankment) produces the common "bump at the end of the bridge".
2. Geometric alignment of the rails get disturbed due to sinking in the approaches.
3. Increased wear on bridge components can lead to decreased ride quality for freight and passengers, lower train speeds and poorer train safety.

Strata’s geotechnical experts proposed an out-of-the-box approach for this challenge. They suggested using their soil confinement product - StrataWeb^® geocells. StrataWeb^® performs like a semi-rigid slab as it confines the ballast and reduces the vertical stresses reaching the subgrade. StrataWeb^® offers a long-lasting solution to repair sinking bridge approaches, with minimal maintenance.