Search

The subject matter of this paper is assessment of the suitability of a dynamic cone penetrometer for determination of the state of soil. The principle of operation of the dynamic cone penetrometer, similar to commonly used DPL penetrometers, is described in the paper. Next the results of investigation conducted in Poland using a new dynamic cone penetrometer are presented. A series of measurements were performed in real field conditions. An attempt was made to correlate the results obtained with the dynamic and static cone penetrometers (CPT) respectively. These correlations were then subjected to validation to obtain a preliminary evaluation of the suitability of the dynamic cone penetrometer for determining the state of soil.

Within the INMOP 3 research project, an attempt was made to solve a number of problems associated with the methodology of modelling travel in urban areas and the application of intermodal models. One of these is the ability to describe the behaviour of transport system users, when it comes to making decisions regarding the selection of means of transport and searching for relationships between travel describing factors and the decisions made in regard of means of transport choice.

The subject of this paper is analysis of the influence of horizontal forces estimated on the basis of Eurocode on the stability of an exemplary railway embankment located in the horizontal curve. The work begins with an overview of the methods for determining the earthworks stability. The methods are presented along with a reference to the recommendations contained in Eurocode 7. On the basis of the Eurocode, the loads acting on the analyzed embankment are presented together. In addition to the standard vertical interactions (from the rolling stock, the weight of the track structure and ground), the calculations also take into account horizontal forces caused by: wind forces on rolling stock, centrifugal forces and nosing force of the rolling stock as well as thermal stresses in the rails. Next, there are 15 load combinations calculated according to the Eurocode guidelines. At the end of the work the values of safety factors of the embankment obtained by shear strength reduction method are presented. The obtained results show a significant influence of horizontal forces calculated on the basis of the Eurocode on the stability of the railway embankment analyzed in the work.

The dynamic probing methods are commonly used for the subsoil identification. For example, the relative density/density index (ID) of cohesionless soils can be determined by using appropriate correlation relationships. The results obtained by various probing methods (DPL, DPH, DPM) may vary from one to another. Thus, the field tests were conducted in order to determine how important these discrepancies are. Each of the above mentioned methods were performed 10 times at one location. The effect of the influence of the penetrometer type on the relative density estimation results was determined. Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that the results obtained by the medium and heavy penetrometers are very close to each other. On the other hand, the discrepancies between the results obtained with the light penetrometer and the other two penetrometers are greater, both in terms of mean difference and scatter.