01595686

Component

Due to the limitation of the ballast tamping technique for recovering railway track geometry, alternative technical solutions are currently being developed, such as the stoneblowing process and the incorporation of under-sleeper pads to reduce track maintenance. These developments are particularly useful in transition sections where differential settlements are more likely to occur. Based on these techniques, this paper examines the efficacy of two possible alternative solutions. The first of these involves combining the process of stoneblowing with under-sleeper pads (of varying degrees of stiffness) manufactured from waste tires. This technique aims to provide an effective and durable track, whilst also minimizing costs due to the reuse of an abundant waste material. Secondly, a novel solution is proposed that consists of replacing part of the small stones (used in the stoneblowing process) with rubber particles from waste tires (analyzing the impact of various quantities), with the aim of obtaining a solution that combines the benefits of stoneblowing and under-sleeper pads, but without using these last elements. The results show that using both types of elastic elements from waste tires yields a significant improvement in the effectiveness of stoneblowing for reducing ballast maintenance, whilst also optimizing the behavior of the ballast by using elements of varying flexibility.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AR060 Standing Committee on Railway Maintenance.

01584066

16-2781

English

12p

2016

Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; References; Tables

Alternatives analysis; Ballast (Railroads); Maintenance of way; Reclaimed rubber; Tie pads; Tires; Waste products (Materials)

Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Railroads

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2016 Paper #16-2781

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 12 2016 5:14PM