Abstract
This study focuses on evaluating the field performance of a newly developed eco-friendly precast concrete slab track structure for railway/subway systems in Seoul, South Korea. Although Ballasted railway track structures are one of the most common track structures in the railway industry, they have some drawbacks including higher maintenance cost, un-uniform supports, and a high level of noise and vibration. However, a ballastless (slab-based) track structure system requires less maintenance and uniform support conditions, as well as several ballastless structure systems developed for high-speed trains. The Seoul Metro subway in South Korea has developed a ballastless reinforced concrete (RC) slab railway system using a type of conventional concrete. This study presents a ballastless precast concrete slab using a newly developed eco-friendly concrete, which can significantly improve structural performances and the manufacturability of a railway track structure system. This study evaluates the field performance of the eco-friendly concrete slab system deployed in one of the existing tunnel sections of the Seoul Metro subway system. A total of 10 m long slab sections including a 5 m long eco-friendly “ballasted track to slab track (B2S)” panels section and a 5 m long conventional B2S panels section are installed and monitored side by side. Field tests are performed to measure the level of noise, vibration, dynamic wheel load, rail displacement, and rail stress. The field measurements from the eco-friendly B2S section are compared to those of the conventional reinforced concrete slab track systems. The results show that the performance of the new B2S system using the eco-friendly concrete is comparable and/or superior to the conventional system.
Highlights
In the railway engineering field, two basic types of railroad track structures are most commonly used: (1) a ballasted railway track structure with either concrete prestressed sleepers or wooden sleepers and (2) a ballastless track structure
100% of fine aggregate was replaced by electric arc furnace (EAF) oxidizing slag
In order to maximize the benefits of the developed eco-friendly concrete, this paper presents the development of an eco-friendly precast concrete slab
Summary
In the railway engineering field, two basic types of railroad track structures are most commonly used: (1) a ballasted railway track structure with either concrete prestressed sleepers or wooden sleepers and (2) a ballastless track structure. 100% of fine aggregate was replaced by electric arc furnace (EAF) oxidizing slag They used the newly developed cement-based material to manufacture eco-friendly prestressed concrete sleepers and the new railway structural component was successfully installed in the field of a high-speed train track in. They conducted a series of experimental tests to evaluate the structural performance of the eco-friendly concrete sleepers and compared to conventional prestressed concrete sleepers according to domestic/international standard tests. Four eco-friendly ballasted track to slab track (B2S) panels are manufactured and installed in an operating metro-subway line in Seoul, South Korea and the field performance is measured: dynamic wheel loads, rail displacements, rail stress, and the level of noise and vibration. The measurements are compared with the performance of a conventional reinforced concrete slab section which was installed right next to the eco-friendly B2S
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