6533b820fe1ef96bd1279a71

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Novel performance-based technique for predicting maintenance strategy of bitumen stabilised ballast

Giacomo D'angeloMarinella GiuntaDavide Lo PrestiSara BressiNick Thom

subject

BallastEngineeringMaintenance0211 other engineering and technologiesRailway ballastDegradation model020101 civil engineering02 engineering and technologyBitumen stabilisationTrack (rail transport)0201 civil engineeringTamping021105 building & constructionLife cycle costsSettore ICAR/04 - Strade Ferrovie Ed AeroportiGeneral Materials ScienceSensitivity (control systems)Civil and Structural EngineeringSettlementbusiness.industrySettlement (structural)Maintenance strategyBuilding and ConstructionReliability engineeringBitumen stabilisation; Degradation model; Life cycle approach; Maintenance; Railway ballast; Settlement; Tamping; Civil and Structural Engineering; Building and Construction; Materials Science (all)AsphaltMaterials Science (all)businessLife cycle approachMarine engineering

description

Abstract Despite being the most used worldwide, railway ballasted tracks presents high maintenance cost related to ballast settlement and particle degradation. With the aim of reducing life cycle costs, bitumen stabilised ballast (BSB) has been recently proposed as a relatively cheap alternative maintenance solution to be applied to existing tracks. This study aims at assessing the potential advantages of this technology, defining a novel maintenance strategy of traditional ballasted track-beds. A protocol for the application of the BSB technology and its associated maintenance strategy is defined. To estimate minor and major maintenance operations of BSB scenario in comparison to traditional ballasted track-bed, an integrated model, based on laboratory tests, combining the evolution of track irregularities and ballast contamination with traffic, was used. Results together with a sensitivity analysis related to main parameters adopted revealed that the application of BSB is expected to provide a significant increase of intervals between both minor and major maintenance activities.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2018-02-01Construction and Building Materials
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.11.115