STRESSES IN THE RAILS, THE BALLAST AND IN THE FORMATION RESULTING FROM TRAFFIC LOADS. REPEATED LOADING OF CLAY AND TRACK FOUNDATION DESIGN

This report on repeated loading of clay and track foundation design covers a three-phase investigation: Laboratory study of deformation of a cohesive soil subjected to triaxial loading; development of a design method for predicting depth of ballast required under track to prevent the failure of the subgrade; field investigations to check the validity of the design method. Among the conclusions: (1) Under repetitive loading some cohesive soils will fail at lower stresses than those causing failure under a single application; (2) For these soils a level of stress exists, above which repeated application causes rapid permanent deformation and plastic yielding, and below which repeated application causes terminating deformation; (3) Other cohesive soils with high silt or sand fraction do not exhibit a distinct threshold stress; (4) Threshold stress is not a unique parameter; (5) Standardized tests develop values useful in track design.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  Office of Research and Experiments
  Utrecht,   Netherlands 
• Publication Date: 1970-10

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 44 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ballast (Railroads); Clay; Railroad tracks; Soil mechanics; Soil stabilization; Soil tests; Soil types; Structural design; Subgrade (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil classification; Subgrade stability; Track design
• Old TRIS Terms: Ballast depth; Question d71
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052731
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: D71/RP 12/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 29 1976 12:00AM