Results of Experimental Georadar Surveys of Railway Sections

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using georadar sounding as a high-speed method for monitoring the condition of subsurface layers of railway infrastructure facilities and identifying zones of abnormal structure in the embankment and underlying soil, which could worsen the bearing properties of the soil at the base of the railway track, and develop specific measures to eliminate soil defects. The methodology of the study involved conducting georadar surveys using Loza geophysical complex and antennas with 100 cm, lateral steps of 50 cm and 20 cm, and a depth of sounding up to 256 ns to profile the embankments of new and old railway tracks and transverse georadar profiles through problem areas. Abnormal violations of the railway embankment structure were detected through georadar survey, revealing local heterogeneities due to insufficient and uneven compaction, while the main part of the embankment and the bedrock at its base remain unaffected. The practical significance of this research is that it provides important information about the structural integrity of railway embankments, which can be used by railway engineers to identify potential problems and make necessary repairs, thus improving the safety and efficiency of railway transportation.