OPTIMUM ADAPTATION OF THE CONVENTIONAL TRACK TO FUTURE TRAFFIC. DEFORMATION OF RAILWAY BALLAST UNDER REPEATED LOADING (TRIAXIAL TESTS)

This report describes the results of a series of laboratory triaxial tests concerning the deformation of dry limestone ballast under repeated applications of load. The results show that the deformation of ballast is: 1. Proportional to the log of the number of load cycles. 2. Proportional to the superimposed axial stress raised to an exponent within the range 1 to 3. 3. Determined mainly by the largest load when two load levels are applied. 4. Reduced if full load removal is not allowed between load cycles. The elastic properties of the ballast are also examined and the report concludes with the practical implications of the test results.

• 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: 1974-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ballast (Railroads); Loads; Railroad tracks; Soil stabilization; Stabilized materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ballast; Subgrade stability
• Old TRIS Terms: Ballast stabilization; Question d117; Track loading
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052632
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: D117/RP 5/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1975 12:00AM