TECHNICAL DATA BASES REPORT. BALLAST AND FOUNDATION MATERIALS RESEARCH PROGRAM

Literature and other information sources pertaining to properties of granular materials, ballast and sub-ballast materials, fine-grained soils, and structural behavior models were reviewed. Presented in this report is a summary of the current technology relative to the following: (1) procedures for evaluating ballast and subgrade material properties; (2) factors which influence ballast and soil material properties; (3) relations between ballast and soil material properties and track system behavior and performance; (4) applicability of structural analysis models to predicting behavior of track system; (5) transfer functions relating track behavior to performance. Based on the review, it is concluded that ballast and subgrade materials receive inadequate considerations in analysis and design, more realistic models are available for structural analysis of track systems, transfer functions relating track behavior to performance are not available and climatic factors exert a significant influence on behavior and performance and must be given appropriate consideration in analysis and design of the track system.

• Record URL:
  • https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/technical-data-bases-report-ballast-and-foundation-materials-research-program
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Urbana, IL  United States  61801

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Robnett, Q L
  • Thompson, M R
  • Hay, W W
  • Tayabji, S D
  • Knutson, R M
• Publication Date: 1975-7

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 179 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Climate; Cohesive soils; Cold weather; Compressive strength; Deformation; Design; Failure; Foundations; Grain size; Granular materials; Loads; Mathematical models; Performance evaluations; Properties of materials; Railroad tracks; Railroads; Reviews; Soil mechanics; Soil stabilization; Soils; Stresses; Structural design; Subgrade (Pavements); Texture; Track ballast; Train track dynamics; Triaxial shear tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ballast; Soil properties; Subgrade stability; Track design; Triaxial tests
• Old TRIS Terms: Track response investigations
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Materials; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00133229
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA/ORD-76/138 Summ. Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FR-30038
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 23 1976 12:00AM