In: Civil Engineering
If a new railroad embankment is to be constructed in an area that restricts how wide its base may be, name some of the design alternatives you would consider to limit the embankment width at its base.
Alternative 1 : Move the entire railway yard area to some other location where hydrogeological conditions were more acceptable. This alternative wouid not be attractive at this late stage of design because fresh land negotiations and other permit requirements would delay the project.
Alternative 2: Rearrange the railway yard configuration by avoiding the area where bedrock is at shallow depths and has high piezometric pressures. This meant the railway yard would be relocated along the eastern boundary of the property and extend northwards beyond the existing railway yard limits.
Alternative 3: Raise the elevation of the entire railway yard. This would avoid cutting into high pressured bedrock surface and would also provide enough surcharge to counteract piezometric pressures in the bedrock. Local trafficability problems in soft areas due to water could be solved by providing proper drainage and gravel blanket over geotextile fabric.