Railroad loads

[akastud]

All,

I have a client who wants to build a cantilevered retaining wall that is outside the zone of influence for railroad cars. I understand that I will have no lateral pressure from the weight of the rail cars, but I am 15' away and I am curious if the vibratory loads should be of concern. I have considered escalating my seismic forces to feel better about it, but just wondered what others input might be.

THX, akastud

 

[edward1]

akastud,
If you are only 15 feet away I suggest you find a copy of Norfolk Southern Lateral Pressures from Coopers E-80 Train Loads. All pressures shown in their charts are based on Boussinesq equation for strip loads shown in AREA specifications Chapter 8, Section 20 C, Part 2b.
Good luck

 

[akastud]

Edward,
Even if the depth of the foundation is only 6 feet?
Akastud

 

[PEinc]

From my experience with many railroads, a Boussinesq analysis for a Cooper E80 strip load [80,000#/(8.5'x5') = 1,882 psf vertical on an 8.5' wide continuous strip] is required. The railroad specs do not say how far away you need to be before you can ignore the surcharge. It seems to me that, as long as the excavation is made below the theoretical railroad embankment line, you would need to apply the surcharge. Some railroads also require use of an impact factor of up to 1.5. If the railroad line is for passenger traffic only, the railroad might allow a surcharge less that Cooper E80.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[PEinc]

FYI - Norfolk Southern's Cooper E-80 Surcharge is attached.

www.PeirceEngineering.com