Experimental investigation into the longitudinal resistance of ballasted railway track

Abstract

In this paper, a new test method and a measurement technique were proposed to evaluate the track longitudinal resistance (TLR). The three-stage track longitudinal behavior was assessed. The track longitudinal stiffness (TLS) and track longitudinal resistance force (TLRF) were defined based on the analyses of force-displacement curves in each test. Next, the effect of ballast geometry on these two parameters was scrutinized. The resisting mechanism was described. Finally, the share of ballast geometry components in providing the TLS was determined, and contribution percentages were verified by comparing the results with those of previous studies. Nine test conditions were considered. The ballast depth (BD) was set at 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm. In each ballast depth, the TLR was evaluated with and without the crib and shoulder ballasts. The average values of TLS and TLRF were obtained as 22.94 kN/mm and 35.52 kN, and the total share of the base, crib, and shoulder ballast was calculated as 21%, 67%, and 12%, respectively. It was found that the crib ballast had the most impact on the TLS and enhanced the TLS and TLRF up to 4.11 and 3.25 times.