Experimental study to examine the role of under sleeper pads for improved performance of ballast under cyclic loading

Jayasuriya, C; Indraratna, B; Ngoc Ngo, T

Experimental study to examine the role of under sleeper pads for improved performance of ballast under cyclic loading

Jayasuriya, C Indraratna, B

Ngoc Ngo, T

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Transportation Geotechnics, 2019, 19, pp. 61-73
Issue Date:: 2019-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Jayasuriya, C
dc.contributor.author	Indraratna, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9057-1514
dc.contributor.author	Ngoc Ngo, T
dc.date.accessioned	2020-04-30T04:38:12Z
dc.date.available	2020-04-30T04:38:12Z
dc.date.issued	2019-06-01
dc.identifier.citation	Transportation Geotechnics, 2019, 19, pp. 61-73
dc.identifier.issn	2214-3912
dc.identifier.issn	2214-3912
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/140351
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 Elsevier Ltd The degradation and deformation of ballast critically affect the track geometry, safety, and passenger comfort. The increase in axle loads and train speed increases the stress applied on the ballast and exacerbates the rate of ballast degradation. This situation is more critical when tracks are built on stiff subgrades (e.g. bridges, tunnels and crossings), hence the use of energy absorbing (damping) layers in track substructure is a countermeasure to minimize track damage. In this study, a series of large-scale laboratory tests using the track process simulation testing apparatus (TPSA) is carried out to assess the performance of under sleeper pads (USP) to reduce ballast degradation and to decrease permanent deformation. When placed beneath the sleeper, the energy absorbing nature of USP reduces the energy transferred to the ballast and other substructure components. Subsequently, the ballast layer experiences less deformation and degradation. Innovative tactile surface sensors (matrix-based) are used to measure the pressure and contact area between sleeper and ballast. The measured data show that an increase in contact area between sleeper and ballast decreases the stress applied on ballast, and thus a reduction in ballast breakage and corresponding reduced ballast deformation can be achieved. Furthermore, the influence of the USP stiffness is examined and the measured data offer an insightful understanding of the role of USP for given track and loading conditions in terms of energy dissipation and reduced ballast deformation.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
dc.relation.ispartof	Transportation Geotechnics
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.trgeo.2019.01.005
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0905 Civil Engineering
dc.title	Experimental study to examine the role of under sleeper pads for improved performance of ballast under cyclic loading
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	19
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2020-04-30T04:38:06Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	19
utslib.start-page	61

Abstract:

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd The degradation and deformation of ballast critically affect the track geometry, safety, and passenger comfort. The increase in axle loads and train speed increases the stress applied on the ballast and exacerbates the rate of ballast degradation. This situation is more critical when tracks are built on stiff subgrades (e.g. bridges, tunnels and crossings), hence the use of energy absorbing (damping) layers in track substructure is a countermeasure to minimize track damage. In this study, a series of large-scale laboratory tests using the track process simulation testing apparatus (TPSA) is carried out to assess the performance of under sleeper pads (USP) to reduce ballast degradation and to decrease permanent deformation. When placed beneath the sleeper, the energy absorbing nature of USP reduces the energy transferred to the ballast and other substructure components. Subsequently, the ballast layer experiences less deformation and degradation. Innovative tactile surface sensors (matrix-based) are used to measure the pressure and contact area between sleeper and ballast. The measured data show that an increase in contact area between sleeper and ballast decreases the stress applied on ballast, and thus a reduction in ballast breakage and corresponding reduced ballast deformation can be achieved. Furthermore, the influence of the USP stiffness is examined and the measured data offer an insightful understanding of the role of USP for given track and loading conditions in terms of energy dissipation and reduced ballast deformation.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/140351