In the old days, railroads used to use rail gondolas for retaining walls. Setting them in with the trucks removed and filling them with gravel to serve as gravity walls, either individually, or stacked as structural blocks. I would think containers could be used in a similar fashion. As noted in an earlier comment, the ability of the container to take the lateral pressures induced by the fill inside is a key, but I would think that the design basis for the CSU's would tell you that. The issue with your proposed use would be removal of the top, since that forms part of the structural support for the side walls. If you are fully burying it, then the container would only be acting as a separation for the fill from the surrounding soils, and there is no reason why that would not work. If you are only filling with gravel, you may not have to remove the entire top, but only access hatches to get the gravel in and that way could preserve more structural capacity within the unit. Just a thought...
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Michael Byle P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE
Tetra Tech Inc.,
Langhorne PA
(215) 702-4113
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-18-2018 12:55
From: Len Andersen
Subject: Railroad track with settling solution!
Currently there are 10's of millions of CSU's (container standard units). They wear down to not being allowed for intended purpose. Cut off the top and as a 40 x 8 or 20 x 8's drop into excavation to correct settling and ballast - track over. Views appreciated. Have you done such? Not "best" but might be very cost effective.
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www.gasturbineandersen.com Len Andersen Going to Norway June Engineer
Water Swirled Gas Turbine Technology
New York NY 10116-1529
(914)536-7101
Engineer - Gas Turbine Welding CWI
+ 20 yrs experience
len@...
914-536-7101
800-428-4801Len
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