Effectiveness of geogrid reinforcement in improvement of mechanical behavior of sand-contaminated ballast |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Acoustical and Mechanical Engineering Laboratory (LEAM), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain;2. Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), University of Southampton, UK;3. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK;4. AV Ingenieros, Barcelona, Spain;5. Serra Húnter Fellow, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain;1. Transport Research Centre, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;2. Australian Research Council – Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure (ARC ITTC-Rail), University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;3. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;4. ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure (ITTC-Rail), University of Wollongong, Australia;5. Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;6. ARC ITTC-Rail, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;7. Australia and New Zealand, Global Synthetics Pty Ltd., 44 Telford St., Virginia, QLD 4014, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Vertical stiffness and shear strength of ballasts are significantly degraded when contaminated with sands. There is a lack of solutions/studies related to strengthening ballast against sand contamination. Addressing this limitation, a comprehensive laboratory investigation was made on effectiveness of geogrid reinforcement for improvement of mechanical properties of sand-contaminated ballast. To this end, large-scale direct shear tests as well as plate load tests were conducted on geogrid-reinforced ballast samples prepared with different levels of sand contamination. The obtained results indicate that geogrid reinforcement considerably improves shear strength and vertical stiffness of contaminated ballast. A bandwidth was obtained for contamination levels in which ballast reinforcement is effective. Through examining geogrid with different aperture sizes and locations in the ballast layer, the best performance conditions of geogrid reinforcement were derived. The results were used to propose an effective method of ballast reinforcement and an efficient ballast maintenance approach in sandy areas. |
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| Keywords: | Ballast Geogrid Shear strength Plate load test Sand contamination Railway track |
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