Relationship of Inspection Methods to Ballast Degradation Models: Phase II

Details

• Creators:
  Wilk, Stephen T. ; Li, Dingqing ; DeVencenty, Dante
• Corporate Creators:
  Transportation Technology Center, Inc.
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Railroad Policy and Development ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Data, and Innovation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Ballast (Railroads)
  • Geometry
  • Lateral supports
  • Strut and tie method
  • Condition surveys
  • Forecasting
  • Railroad tracks
  • Life cycle analysis
  • Mud pumps
  • Ground settlement
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FRA/ORD-24/26
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  August 1, 2021–September 30, 2022
• Contracting Officer:
  Thompson, Hugh B
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
• Abstract:
  This report is a follow on of the first phase of a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-sponsored project to evaluate lateral ballast behavior and how mechanics-based track geometry deterioration models forecast field behavior. In Phase II of the project, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. modified the Railway Track Lifecycle Model (RTLM) by adding tamp lift height and a site-specific factor and split the model between a logarithmic settlement and a linear surface profile model. The research team also compared forecasting model projections against multiple field measurement locations at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC). The ballast settlement mechanism at most locations was ballast re-compaction and the RTLM captured the settlement behavior if only the tamp lift height parameter was used. If the settlement mechanism was degraded ballast, the logarithmic settlement curve did not capture abrupt changes in settlement rate from wetting and drying so more linear models, such as the surface profile model, should be used.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DTFR53-11-D-00008L
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76629/dot_76629_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.62 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Federal Railroad Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:eacb73b896638eac7481f2c64912cfba201c909d0a700bd1ed4489c1d82f040bfbee8b1e441c870d59a87e2091cfa0a5d8206271d26fa31b3baa1e63fd369892