PILOT STUDY FOR DEFINITION OF TRACK COMPONENT LOAD ENVIRONMENTS

This report describes the results of an experimental and analytical effort to define the vehicle induced load environment in an at-grade, concrete tie/ballast transit track structure. The experiment was performed on the UMTA transit track oval at the Transportation Test Center in Pueblo, Colorado in order to establish an initial data baseline which could be extended to include data from tests conducted on various transit track structural systems. Standard experimental techniques generally were used to measure the pressures, strains, and applied wheel/rail loads in the various track structure components; however, innovations were effectively introduced for measuring pressures on the bottom of the concrete tie and in the ballast. Track design methods and analytical computer techniques for predicting the load environment in the various track components were evaluated through comparisons with the experimental data. Design conservatism in the tie/ballast transit track systems was evaluated from the aspect of stress criteria versus other design factors based on experience and initial capital costs versus maintenance costs for transit systems.

• Record URL:
  https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/pilot-study-definition-track-component-load-environments
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Kaman Sciences Corp., Colorado Springs, CO., and Thomas K. Dyer, Inc., Lexington, MA.
• Corporate Authors:

  Kaman AviDyne

  Burlington, MA  United States  01803

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Stagliano, T R
  • Mente, L J
  • Gadden Jr, E C
  • Baxter, B W
  • Hale, W K
• Publication Date: 1981-2

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 229 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Ballast (Railroads); Car wheels (Railroads); Concrete; Concrete ties; Costs; Data collection; Dynamic loads; Force; Indicating instruments; Inspection; Instrumentation; Loads; Maintenance of way; Mechanical properties; Rail (Railroads); Railroad ties; Railroad tracks; Rapid transit; Simulation; Subgrade (Pavements); Test tracks; Train track dynamics; Validation; Wheels
• Identifier Terms: Transportation Technology Center
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Ballast mechanics; Rapid transit railways; Track component investigations; Track loading; Track structures
• Subject Areas: Finance; Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00343030
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-TSC-UMTA-81-8 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-TSC-1605
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM