Application of 60/70 Grade Bitumen with Layer Variations on Ballast Structures

Abstract

The conventional track application dominates the Indonesian rail track type. The rail track deterioration due to the overloading train becomes a crucial issue since it leads to high maintenance costs. Damage to the rail track can reduce its service life and carrying capacity. This research utilized the 60/70 grade bitumen as a binding material and stabilization of ballast structure. The aim is to analyze the mechanical behavior of new-ballast and poor-ballast structures, with 4% of the 60/70 grade bitumen in one layer (ballast surface layer) and three layers. The specimen’s weight, vertical deformation, elastic modulus, and ballast material abrasion have been analyzed using a UTM compressive strength test. The most obvious finding to appear from this research is that the new-ballast-based specimen, as for being free of mud and dust, was lighter in weight than the poor-ballast-based sample. Furthermore, the new-ballast and poor-ballast-based specimens added with 4% of the 60/70 grade bitumen had a lower vertical deformation than the baseline specimen. The position of 4% of the 60/70 grade bitumen on the ballast surface layer produced an optimum load distribution to the overall ballast layer. Also, the specimens consisting of new-ballast produced a higher elastic modulus compared to the specimens comprising poor-ballast. Lastly, the presence of the well-distributed asphalt on three layers of ballast structure could produce the minimum abrasion value due to the possibility that asphalt materials could protect ballast materials from abrasion.