Design and Research of the Railway on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

RAN Li (The First Survey and Design Institute of the Ministry of Railways, Lanzhou 730000, China)  

The proposed Qinghai-Tibet Railway(Section of Germu to Lhuasa)is 1 118 km long of which there are 965 km line passing through the plateau of an altitude over 4 000m,and 550 km line passing through the continued permafrost soil.It will be the railway with highest altitude in the world.Those railways in Russia,Canada and Alaska,U.S.A.,were constructed through permafrost soil zone,but Qinghai-Tibet Railway will be the first railway to be constructed on such plateau with widely spreaded premafrost soil.The main key technical problems to be faced in railway construction and operation administration,are plateau(with altitude over 4 000 m) and permafrost and seasonal frost soils. In this paper,firstly,the design concept of the plateau railway has been discussed based on the long time research works.The natural conditions are very cruel:the population is thin;the air is thin,with an average pressure 620 mbar to 544 mbar,only 60%—70% of those at sealevel;the oxygen content of the air is only 54%—62% of those at sea level.In consideration of the influences of these cruel natual conditions,a general design concept has been proposed that quickly passing through the plateau;reducing stations;reducing operating staffs;reducing labour strength.As for the mode of traction power,in technical and economical comparison of electric,diesel and gasturbine locomotives,the diesel locomotive is considered to be feasible and more practical in present situation.The operation and maintenance modes of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway have been also discussed.After comparising several plans,the central station operation plan will be proposed.Along the line,6—7 central stations will be constructed where the natural circumstances are better and habitants are comparatively concentrated.The central stations will be authorized to administrate all maintenance works of track,electric,building, etc.facilities and also traffic operation at nearby passing stations. As for the engineering geological problems in permafrost soil zone,in this paper,the cause of phenomena of the thaw collapse frost heaving icicle,frost heaving mound,solifluction,heat thaw slide and slump,heat thaw lake, etc.have been discribed and the research works of railway and road construction in frozen soil districts in the past 40 years have been briefed.The design principle of the earth construction works and the main measurements have been introduced:such as,reasonable height of embankment,thermal insulation layer,ventilation embankment;viaduct;perfect drainage system etc. Finally,the environment protection measures are especially emphasized:such as protection of natural vegetoble covering;protection of wild animals and control and deposit of sewage waste materials and gases.The works for further study have been also suggested.

【Key Words】： Qinghai-Tibet Railiway Design Research
【CateGory Index】： U212.337

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