Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed
Railway ballast degradation under dynamic loads progressively leads to loss of mechanical performance and geometry of the track, so that maintenance interventions are frequently needed. In order to systematically avoid this issue, recently solutions have been proposed to reinforce track-bed by using...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/36984/ |
| _version_ | 1848795369661530112 |
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| author | D'Angelo, Giacomo Thom, Nicholas Lo Presti, Davide |
| author_facet | D'Angelo, Giacomo Thom, Nicholas Lo Presti, Davide |
| author_sort | D'Angelo, Giacomo |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Railway ballast degradation under dynamic loads progressively leads to loss of mechanical performance and geometry of the track, so that maintenance interventions are frequently needed. In order to systematically avoid this issue, recently solutions have been proposed to reinforce track-bed by using polyurethane and/or resins as well as asphalt layers among others. Nonetheless, their main limitations are related to the high initial cost and low productivity.
To cope with these limitations, in this study, bitumen stabilized ballast (BSB) is proposed as a new solution for ballast stabilization. This method aims at improving durability and reducing settlement by modifying both stiffness and the ability of energy dissipation of the layer. The paper introduces the potential of this technology as material to be used in railway track-beds by presenting the results of a laboratory-based investigation using the Precision Unbound Material Analyser (PUMA). Different variables such as ballast grading, bitumen emulsion dosage, compaction method and stress levels are considered. Results showed a significant decrease in permanent deformation and deformation rate associated with modified stiffness and energy dissipation properties of BSB, which suggest the potential for improving long-term performance and sustainability of ballasted track. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:31:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-36984 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:31:00Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-369842020-05-04T18:16:56Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/36984/ Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed D'Angelo, Giacomo Thom, Nicholas Lo Presti, Davide Railway ballast degradation under dynamic loads progressively leads to loss of mechanical performance and geometry of the track, so that maintenance interventions are frequently needed. In order to systematically avoid this issue, recently solutions have been proposed to reinforce track-bed by using polyurethane and/or resins as well as asphalt layers among others. Nonetheless, their main limitations are related to the high initial cost and low productivity. To cope with these limitations, in this study, bitumen stabilized ballast (BSB) is proposed as a new solution for ballast stabilization. This method aims at improving durability and reducing settlement by modifying both stiffness and the ability of energy dissipation of the layer. The paper introduces the potential of this technology as material to be used in railway track-beds by presenting the results of a laboratory-based investigation using the Precision Unbound Material Analyser (PUMA). Different variables such as ballast grading, bitumen emulsion dosage, compaction method and stress levels are considered. Results showed a significant decrease in permanent deformation and deformation rate associated with modified stiffness and energy dissipation properties of BSB, which suggest the potential for improving long-term performance and sustainability of ballasted track. Elsevier 2016-10-15 Article PeerReviewed D'Angelo, Giacomo, Thom, Nicholas and Lo Presti, Davide (2016) Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed. Construction and Building Materials, 124 . pp. 118-126. ISSN 1879-0526 Bitumen stabilized ballast; Railway trackbed maintenance; Ballast stabilization; Ballast recycling http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061816311679 doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.07.067 doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.07.067 |
| spellingShingle | Bitumen stabilized ballast; Railway trackbed maintenance; Ballast stabilization; Ballast recycling D'Angelo, Giacomo Thom, Nicholas Lo Presti, Davide Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed |
| title | Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed |
| title_full | Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed |
| title_fullStr | Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed |
| title_short | Bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed |
| title_sort | bitumen stabilized ballast: a potential solution for railway track-bed |
| topic | Bitumen stabilized ballast; Railway trackbed maintenance; Ballast stabilization; Ballast recycling |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/36984/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/36984/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/36984/ |