Geotechnical Behavior of Railway Ballast

Ballast is the main structural component of railroad substructure on which the sleepers and rails (superstructure) are laid. In general, ballast aggregates consist of uniformly graded crushed hard rocks. Ballast is frequently subjected to cyclic loading from the trains and exposed to severe weather conditions in service. Performance of the rail track is dependent on the effectiveness of ballast in providing vertical and horizontal stability, optimum resiliency, distribution of loads to the subgrade after reducing to an acceptable intensity and efficient drainage. The performance of ballast is controlled by both the individual and collective properties of ballast. Therefore, studying the geotechnical properties of track ballast to investigate its behavior at service is useful in design better track foundations which provide satisfactory performance and less maintenance. The objective of this publication is to provide details of a comprehensive investigation conducted on the effect of ballast gradation on the settlement behaviour and influence of ballast particle degradation and contamination on the shear strength of ballast.

Pages: 232, Paperback, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing