MECHANICS OF BALLAST COMPACTION. VOLUME 4: LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF FIELD COMPACTION MECHANISMS

This report describes a preliminary series of laboratory tests which attempt to simulate some of the effects of maintenance procedures and traffic on the physical state of ballast as measured by the ballast density test, plate load test, and lateral tie push test. The first part of the report examines ballast compaction with a commercial vibratory plate. The second part considers manual tie tamping. The third part investigates the effect of cyclic loading of ballast with a surface plate, which represents plates on crib and shoulder compaction machines. Vibratory compaction and traffic were shown to be effective means of compacting ballast. However, more research is needed to quantify the effects of the controlling variables.

• Record URL:
  • https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/mechanics-ballast-compaction-volume-4-laboratory-investigation-effects-field-compaction
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also Volume 1, TRIS 365055, Volume 2, TRIS 365056, Volume 3, TRIS 365057, Volume 5, 365059. Also available in set of 5 reports PC E99, PB82-192162.
• Corporate Authors:

  State University of New York, Buffalo

  Transportation and Societal Systems
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14214

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Panuccio, C M
  • McMahon, D R
  • Selig, E T
• Publication Date: 1982-3

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 137 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Ballast (Railroads); Ballast crib; Compaction; Compactors; Construction; Density; Field tests; Highway maintenance; Laboratory tests; Maintenance; Maintenance management; Measurement; Performance tests; Plate bearing test; Railroad tracks; Road shoulders; Stiffness tests; Subgrade (Pavements); Tamping; Test facilities; Track laying; Traffic volume; Vibratory compaction
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ballast; Compaction equipment; Maintenance costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Density measurement; Track structures
• Subject Areas: Construction; Geotechnology; Maintenance and Preservation; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00365058
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-TSC FRA-81-3.IV Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-TSC-1115
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1982 12:00AM