01478752

Component

A test section of railway was installed in Nebraska, with samples taken over the course of three years (1990 to 1993) for sieve analyses. Single-factor analysis of variance tests were used to determine the relationship of measured parameters to the fouling of ballast. Ballast fouling, as measured by the traditional fouling index, increased over time. Fouling was more prevalent in the lower depths of the ballast layer, as well as in the tamping zones. This is because fouled material migrates downward within the ballast layer, and the tamping process increases fouling. Fragmentation fractal analysis was used as a method of classifying the grain size distribution (GSD) of ballast. The average value of the fragmentation fractal dimension increased over time for the entire GSD curve, but decreased for the part of the curve representing the fouled material. Further analysis indicated that the initial GSD of the ballast may not show fractal geometry because of its manufactured nature, but over time the increase in fouling forces the GSD toward a fractal distribution.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AR060 Railway Maintenance.

01470560

13-3403

English

17p

2013

Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Ballast (Railroads); Fractals; Marine fouling

Ballast fouling (Railroads); Fractal analysis

Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; I60: Maintenance

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2013 Paper #13-3403

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 5 2013 12:41PM