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The development in society means that infrastructure like ballasted railway systems are facing challenges due to request for increased number of high-speed trains and heavier freight trains. This implies that ballasted railways get an increased impact from larger dynamic loads. The question is how the ballasted railways are today affected by dynamic loading and how will an increase in train speed and weight change the soil behaviour within the railway embankment.  A method of investigating dynamic soil behaviour is via geophysical measurements. Accelerometers are commonly used for vibration measurements and by installing them on trains are measurements possible to perform for complete railway sections. The knowledge of expected natural frequencies for various track components and soil layers are essential when considering frequency based analysis of vibration measurements. Thus, a frequency based analysis of accelerometer measurements from track recording coaches enables a possible method for analysing the impact of dynamic loads on underlying soil materials with means of a knowledge of expected natural frequencies for various track components and soil layers. Importance to study frequency content of ground motions became more relevant after the Mexico City earthquake 1985 i.e. studies on this specific earthquake revealed amplification of ground motions due to a long duration of shaking and resonance of soil deposits and furthermore causing damage to buildings whose natural period was the same as the period of ground motion. Thus, if we consider a railway with long train sets running along the railway line. Long durations of shaking of the ground can occur as well as a possible resonance of various soil layers leading to changes in material properties. An interesting finding regarding vibration measurements conducted on a track recording coach show that after Fast Fourier Transformation of the measured vibration data, a frequency spectrum analysis indicate possibilities to detect resonance of the ballast layer in the railway embankment. Therefore, this thesis focus on frequency based analysis of the ballast layer were indications of changes in shear modulus of ballast is seen with means of frequency spectrum and theoretical knowledge of the change in shear modulus in ballast material under cyclic loading and increased shear strain. The thesis consists of two main parts, first is the construction of the so-called frequency-based analysis method of track alignment measurements in a geodynamic perspective and the second part is application of the frequency-based method on a case study. Thus, the scientific contribution of this thesis is to increase knowledge of track alignment measurements in the geotechnical field and to provide a frequency based analysis method of track alignment measurements in a geodynamic perspective for evaluation of soil properties. For the actual case study two different railway sections in Sweden is chosen to enable a comparison, especially when these sections differ with respect to one having only a ballast layer and subgrade and one having ballast, sub ballast and subgrade. Thus, the section with only ballast and subgrade enable a clearer analysis since these layers have large difference in natural frequency. First section is located at Tolikberget in the north part of Sweden and second one between Stenkumla and Dunsjö in south of Sweden. From the analysis of the selected sections it is possible to see indications from the frequency spectrum that the vibration measurements capture the natural frequencies of ballast material associated to the maximum shear modulus and to varying degrees of reduced shear modulus due to increased shear strain. Thus, it can be concluded that vibration measurements conducted on track recording coaches have potential to be used for studies of changes in ballast materials dynamic properties.

Banverket is expecting that the number of railway tunnels in densely populated areas will increase over the next 20 years due to the lack of available space on the ground surface, but also since the railway is considered an environmentally friendly solution of transportation for the future. The need for good predictions of vibration and noise levels in dwellings along the planned tunnels is therefore evident. Due to lack of understanding of the propagation of train-induced vibrations from tunnels in rock a research project has been initiated by Banverket. This thesis constitutes the first stage of that project. In this thesis, the propagation of vibrations through a rock mass has been reviewed. The emphasis has been on wave propagation in hard rock masses. Areas, such as the generation of vibrations at the train-rail interface, the response of buildings and humans, national and international recommended noise and vibrations levels, and possible countermeasures are briefly reviewed as well. Finally, suggestions for the continued research are presented. The propagation of waves is influenced by attenuation along the propagation path. The attenuation can either be through geometric spreading, energy loss within the material, or reflection and refraction at boundaries. In a rock mass, where heterogeneities of various scales are present, the attenuation of (train-induced) waves through the ground therefore mainly depends on the properties of the discontinuities. Theoretical models of wave propagation across individual fractures have been presented in the literature. These models can be used to study the attenuation at the fracture for different combinations of joint stiffness, impedance, and angle of incidence. Also multiple parallel joints can be theoretically analysed. The attenuation of low-frequency waves is more prominent in weak rock masses and virtually negligible for hard rock masses. An increased amount of random oriented joints, faults and boundaries increases the attenuation of the waves, but is not possible to study with the aid of theoretical models. The rock mass is in most cases inhomogeneous due to all heterogeneities present. Despite this fact, the rock mass and soil is always treated as an isotropic, homogeneous material in the analyses of ground-borne noise and ground-borne vibrations. This concerns both numerical and empirical methods. Thus, there is a lack of a method that considers the influence of various heterogeneities present in a rock mass on the propagation of waves. Future research regarding train-induced vibrations should focus on combining the models of attenuation in the material with the models of attenuation across joints. Thereafter, conceptual models should be used to determine the propagation of low-frequency waves in a rock mass containing various amounts of heterogeneities (from isotropic to highly inhomogeneous) which should be compared to the theoretical methods available. Once the behaviour of waves in an inhomogeneous rock mass has been established, conceptual models should be used together with measurements from a few well documented cases. From the results of the analysis, guidelines for analysis of railway tunnels with regard to ground-borne noise and ground-borne vibrations should be established. / Banverket uppskattar att antalet järnvägstunnlar I tätbebyggt område kommer att öka inom de närmaste 20 åren, dels på grund av att tåg är ett miljövänligt transportsätt samt att marken i tätbebyggda områden är begränsad. Det finns därför ett stort behov av tillförlitliga metoder för att bedöma vilka vibrations- samt stomljudsnivåer som kommer att uppstå i bostäderna längs den planerade järnvägen. För att öka förståelsen har Banverket initierat ett forskningsprojekt där denna avhandling utgör den första delen. I denna avhandling har vågors propagering genom bergmassan studerats. Områden som uppkomsten av vibrationerna, hur människor och byggnader påverkas av vibrationer, nationella samt internationella standarder, samt åtgärder för att minska vibrationer har studerats. Slutligen ges förslag på fortsatt forskning.När vågor propagerar genom ett material dämpas vågen. Dämpningen kan bestå av geometrisk dämpning, energiförluster till materialet, eller reflektion och refraktion vid materialgränser. I en bergmassa som innehåller heterogeniteter i varierande skala orsakas dämpningen av vågorna främst av sprickornas egenskaper. Teoretiska modeller av vågors propagering genom en spricka finns rapporterade i litteraturen . Dessa modeller kan användas för att studera en sprickas inverkan på vågor för olika kombinationer av sprickegenskaper, till exempel sprickstyvhet, impedans eller infallsvinkel. Det finns även teoretiska modeller för att studera parallella sprickors inverkan på vågor. Dämpningen av vågor med låg frekvens är dominerande i bergmassor av låg kvalitet men i princip försumbar i hårt friskt berg. Ökad förekomst av sprickor, förkastningar, och materialgränser ökar dämpningen. Det är dock svårt att studera sådana bergmassor på ett bra sätt med analytiska modeller.En bergmassa innehåller en mängd olika typer av heterogeniteter. Trots detta antas oftast bergmassan vara ett isotropt, elastiskt och homogent material vid analyser av stomljud och vibrationer. Detta gäller både numeriska och empiriska modeller. Det finns således ingen metod som beaktar sprickors egenskaper vid analyser av vibrationer i bergmassor. I den fortsatta forskningen bör man studera möjligheten att kombinera metoder som används för att bestämma materialdämpning med metoderna som används för att bestämma dämpningen för sprickor och materialkontakter. Detta skulle möjliggöra utvecklingen av enkla regler för hur bergmassan ska modelleras vid analyser av stomljud. Därtill bör konceptuella modeller användas för att studera vågors propagering genom material med varierande grad av uppsprickning. Dessa enkla modeller bör sedan jämföras med de teoretiska modellerna. De konceptuella modellerna bör sedan kombineras med studier av något eller några väldokumenterade tunnlar. Utifrån analyserna bör det vara möjligt att skapa enkla regler för hur bergmassan ska modelleras då man studerar stomljud. / <p>Godkänd; 2008; 20081211 (ysko)</p>

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Currently, cement base grout is used widely for sealing of the rock fractures in order to decrease the permeability of rock mass. Grouting procedure is one of the main tasks in cycle of rock excavation. In addition, huge amount of grout should be used during dam construction in order to seal the bedding and embankment walls. Therefore, considering the effect of grouting in duration and cost of the project, improving the design methods seems essential. In successful grouting the goal is to achieve the required sealing of fractures while avoiding ground movement due to applied pressure. Empirical methods have been developed to decide the pumping pressure, grout mix properties and stop criteria in order to fulfill requirements of successful grouting but there are ambiguities in using them and performance of them have been questioned. In these methods, assumptions and criteria are based on rules of thumbs and experiences from previous projects. The main uncertainties connected to these methods are identifying amount of grout spread and state of the fracture. Theoretical approach is an analytical solution which provides the chance for estimation of penetration length of the grout in real time. Furthermore, void filling fracture aperture and trend of the grout flow are estimated. As the development of this theory, elastic and ultimate jacking limits have been established based on the estimated penetration length. Therefore, it is possible to identify jacking of the fracture and estimate the state of the fracture in real time.  In this research work, performance of this theoretical approach which is called “Real Time Grouting Control Method” has been validated through case studies. Properties of the used material, data for pressure and flow in addition to geological characteristics have been gathered from projects in sedimentary rock (Gotvand Dam in Iran and THX Dam in Laos) and hard rock (City Line Project in Sweden). This theory made it possible to observe overflow of grout and jacking of the fractures in sedimentary rock. In place of hard rock with mostly vertical fractures, this theoretical approach confirms usage of higher pressure which will shorten the grouting time. In this research work, variation in properties of the grout mix during grouting has been neglected. moreover, orientation of the fracture and its deformation due to injection pressure are not considered. Despite these assumptions, the results were promising and performance this approach in estimation of grout spread and identifying jacking of the fracture has been verified. / <p>QC 20130520</p> / Rafi, J, Stille, H, Bagheri, M, 2012. Applying “Real Time Grouting Control Method” in Sedimentary Rock, in 4th International Conference on Grouting and Deep Mixing. 16-18 February, New Orleans-USA. / Rafi J, Stille H, 2013. Controlling jacking of rock considering spread of grout and grouting pressure, Accepted in Journal of Tunneling and Underground Space Technology. / Rafi J, Tsuji M, Stille H, 2013. Theoretical Approaches in Grouting Fractures of the Rock Mass: Theories and Applications. Accepted in the 47th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium. 23-26 June, San Francisco, CA, USA. / Rafi J, Tsuji M, Stille H, 2013. Theoretical approaches in grouting design: estimation of penetration length and fracture deformation in real time in Bergmekanikdagen, 11 March, Stockholm-Sweden.

Soil-rock probing (Jb-probing) is the most common probing method in Sweden. Due to the penetration capacity of the Jb-probing it can be performed in both soil and rock. However, the capacity also results in inherent limitations and uncertainties, such as the difficulty identifying the soil layer sequences of soft soils. In order to attain a more detailed soil layer sequence it is necessary to perform complementary probing and sampling methods, an inefficient and consequently costly procedure. By instead implementing non-interfering complementary methods performed simultaneously as the Jb-probing the method may be rationalized. The so-called acoustic Jb-probing method may be a potential complement to the Jb-probing. In this thesis a continued study of the acoustic Jb-probing method is performed by means of a case study in Gubbängen with the focus on the potential additional information that the spectrogram (a visual representation of the frequency spectra) may contain compared to the Jb-parameters alone. This was done by obtaining vibration signals during Jb-probing using a triaxle geophone installed four meters from the boreholes. Vibration signals were collected from 13 boreholes. The vibration signals were then analyzed in time- and frequency domain which were compared to corresponding Jb-parameters and classified soil types. The results showed that the clay layers held the most promise for discovering additional information in the spectrogram, however this does not exclude potential in other soil types. Additionally, it was shown that the geophone ought to be fastened in the ground in order to attain satisfactory data. Overall, the acoustic Jb-probing method is a favorable way of collecting and analyzing data, which with continued development of the operational and computational process may be an economical alternative to the conventional method.

Piled friction soil show a set-up which is increasing with the time after installation. The cost could be reduced if the set-up had been taken into account when designing but in Sweden it is very unusual to do that. Previous studies showed that set-up can vary between 25 % and 75 % during the first 90 days after pile installation. This showed that the effect of the phenomenon is difficult to predict. A study involving five projects have been carried out by specifying certain parameters like pile type, method for pile installation and test method for measure the bearing capacity in friction soils located in Sweden. The expectations from this study were whishes that the large dispersion should be reduced. This was not the case. One example of the wide dispersion is two piles which are 29 meters long and installed in Södertälje. One of the piles had a set-up of 249 % for 21 days while the other one had a loss of 7 % in bearing capacity during the same time interval. Since these large dispersions encountered it was found that soil characteristics and composition has a major impact on the coming set-up. Friction soil exhibit variations in properties such as how dense it is, the variety and size of layers in the soil profile and grain size. These are all not possible to determine if it not is a research project or some kind of project where detailed surveys are can be done considering time and money. Another parameter that indicated to have impact on the outcome of the phenomenon was the order of installations of the piles. Stress rearrangement in the soil is one of the mechanisms behind the set-up. An empirical relationship to predict the bearing capacity has been used as the piles have been compared with each other. An interesting finding of the study showed that the pile length influences how large the pile set-up gets. One design method for piles that takes into account the pile set-up is the ICP-method but is barely used in Sweden. To see how well and if this method match the results from dynamic pile tests calculations has been done. Average showed that the ICP-method gave a 13 % lower bearing capacity than the real value. There are several reasons that this method differs from the values from test data. For example the CPT tests were not as deep as the piles so the stress from the pile toe is just extrapolated. The friction angle in the soil is based on empirical data which means that the friction angle between concrete and soil is empirical as well which affect the result significantly.

In this report, connectivity modeling has been performed using land cover data to find habitat pinch-points for deer along the study area Norrortsleden in Stockholm. Norrortsleden was chosen because there are a high number of deer accidents in the area, and is a priority area for action according to a barrier analysis for deer made by the Swedish Transport Administration. After interviews and research, it was found that a tool named LinkageMapper using CircuitScape theory is one good way to find habitat pinch-points along transport corridors. Firstly, a habitat resistance raster map and zone data are needed. The habitat resistance layer was made using ground cover data and given resistance values specifically for deer. An edge-zone layer was also added on top using built-in ArcGIS tools. Lastly all the road and railway data was transformed into raster and added to the final resistance layer. To find the pinch-points in the natural habitat for deer, different settings for the ArcGIS tool LinkageMapper have been tested and variations of the zone layer have been used. LinkageMapper is an external free to download tool and uses CircuitScape theory to find habitat pinch points. Different settings were tested for a 2-zone version on a 2 km buffer on each side of the road. In addition, two main settings are available, all-to-one mode and pairwise mode in LinkageMapper. Input width must also be entered to limit the number of results. Corridor width was set to 50 m for all of the produced results. After preparation of the raw data, processing zones and resistance layers it was found that usually only one corridor was showing, so a version with 6 zones on each side of the road with a 4 km buffer was made and produced more continuous results. All of the pinch-points found were marked on a map and the ones not already near an existing wildlife passage are located just south of Lake Vallentuna. The research found that the GIS-based approach is effective for Identifying high-priority locations of defragmentation across transport corridors. Using CircuitScape theory can be a great compliment too regular least cost-path.

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Deterministic methods have been used in geotechnical engineering for a long period, such as slope stability calculations. However, only applying deterministic methods is subjective and imperfect. There is a demand to develop a systematic methodology to link the assessed slope stability and field measurement data, which is also known as inverse analysis and forward calculation. Based on the Nya Slussen project, this thesis includes the development of a methodology, deterministic calculation for 4 cross sections using finite element program Plaxis 2D and probabilistic calculation for one section. Deterministic analyses showed satisfying results for all the studied cross sections since their factors of safety exceeded the minimum requirement. In probabilistic design, three parameters were found to have the most uncertainties through sensitivity analysis (undrained shear strength of clay, Young’s modulus of clay and friction angle of fill). Inverse analysis was done by testing different values of them in Plaxis and to try to match the displacement components provided by field measurement. After finding the best optimization for all the parameters, forward calculation gave a final factor of safety. It is suggested that both of the methods should be utilized together for better assessment.