Computational Technology Resources - IJRT

T. Abadi, L. Le Pen, A. Zervos and W. Powrie

Infrastructure Research Group, University of Southampton, United Kingdom

doi:10.4203/ijrt.4.2.3

T. Abadi, L. Le Pen, A. Zervos, W. Powrie, "Measuring the Area and Number of Ballast Particle Contacts at Sleeper-Ballast and Ballast-Subgrade Interfaces", International Journal of Railway Technology, 4(2), 45-72, 2015. doi:10.4203/ijrt.4.2.3

Keywords: ballast, sleeper, pressure paper, under sleeper pad (USP), grading.

Abstract

The number of railway ballast particles in contact with a sleeper may be relatively small. The discrete and non-uniform nature of these contacts may cause breakage and wear. This article explores the use of pressure paper to record the loading history of sleeper to ballast particle contacts over 3 million loading cycles in full size tests. The results demonstrate that the actual contact area may be less than 1% of the total, and that the number of individual contacts is in the hundreds. Under sleeper pads, a finer ballast grading, a shallower shoulder slope, and changes to the sleeper material are found to increase the number and area of contacts.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to IJRT
purchase this issue (price £80 +P&P)

	Computational & Technology Resources an online resource for computational, engineering & technology publications
	not logged in - login
Front Page Browse CCP CSETS CTR IJRT Other Authors Search Purchase Guide FAQ Contact us	International Journal of Railway Technology ISSN 2049-5358 IJRT, Volume 4, Issue 2, 2015 Measuring the Area and Number of Ballast Particle Contacts at Sleeper-Ballast and Ballast-Subgrade Interfaces T. Abadi, L. Le Pen, A. Zervos and W. Powrie Infrastructure Research Group, University of Southampton, United Kingdom doi:10.4203/ijrt.4.2.3 purchase the full-text of this paper Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper T. Abadi, L. Le Pen, A. Zervos, W. Powrie, "Measuring the Area and Number of Ballast Particle Contacts at Sleeper-Ballast and Ballast-Subgrade Interfaces", International Journal of Railway Technology, 4(2), 45-72, 2015. doi:10.4203/ijrt.4.2.3 Keywords: ballast, sleeper, pressure paper, under sleeper pad (USP), grading. Abstract The number of railway ballast particles in contact with a sleeper may be relatively small. The discrete and non-uniform nature of these contacts may cause breakage and wear. This article explores the use of pressure paper to record the loading history of sleeper to ballast particle contacts over 3 million loading cycles in full size tests. The results demonstrate that the actual contact area may be less than 1% of the total, and that the number of individual contacts is in the hundreds. Under sleeper pads, a finer ballast grading, a shallower shoulder slope, and changes to the sleeper material are found to increase the number and area of contacts. purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20) go to the previous paper go to the next paper return to the table of contents return to IJRT purchase this issue (price £80 +P&P)
Back to top	©Civil-Comp Limited 2023 - terms & conditions