Optimisation of bitumen emulsion properties for ballast stabilisation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2017.04416

Keywords:

Aggregate, Characterization, Permeability, Deformation, Durability

Abstract


Ballasted track, while providing economical and practical advantages, is associated with high costs and material consumption due to frequent maintenance. More sustainable alternatives to conventional ballasted trackbeds should therefore aim at extending its durability, particularly considering ongoing increases in traffic speed and loads. In this regard, the authors have investigated a solution consisting of bitumen stabilised ballast (BSB), designed to be used for new trackbeds as well as in reinforcing existing ones. This study presents the idea behind the technology and then focuses on a specific part of its development: the optimisation of bitumen emulsion properties and dosage in relation to ballast field conditions. Results showed that overall bitumen stabilisation improved ballast resistance to permanent deformation by enhancing stiffness and damping properties. Scenarios with higher dosage of bitumen emulsion, higher viscosity, quicker setting behaviour, and harder base bitumen seem to represent the most desirable conditions to achieve enhanced in-field performance.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Sussmann, T.R.; Ebersohn, W.; Selig, E.T. (2001) Fundamental nonlinear track load-deflection behavior for condition evaluation. Transp Res Rec. 1742: 61-67. https://doi.org/10.3141/1742-08

Selig, E.T.; Waters, J.M. (1994) Track Geotechnology and Substructure Management, T. Telford.

Dahlberg, T. (2004) Railway track settlements - a literature review, Link^ping.

Pires, J.; Dumont, A.G. (2015) Railway ballast degradation. 15th Swiss Transp Res Conf. Ascona.

Paderno, C. (2010) Ballast behavior under action of tamping and railway traffic, EPFL, Switzerland.

Hunt, G.A.; Wood, J. (2005) Review of the effect of track stiffness on track performance. Rail Saf Stand Board.

Steenbergen, M. (2009) Efficient long-term track design: energy flux optimisation. 8th Int Conf Contact Mech Wear Rail/Wheel Syst, Firenze.

Lopez Pita, A.; Teixeira, P.F.; Robuste, F. (2004) High speed and track deterioration: the role of vertical stiffness of the track. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit. 218: 31-40. https://doi.org/10.1243/095440904322804411

Esveld, C. (2001) Modern railway track. Traffic. (Vol. 18). http://www.esveld.com/MRT_Selection.pdf

Sol-Sanchez, M.; Moreno-Navarro, F.; Rubio-Gamez, M.C. (2015) The use of elastic elements in railway tracks: A state of the art review. Constr Build Mater. 75: 293-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.11.027

Teixeira, P.F. (2004) Contribucion a la reduccion de los costes de matenimiento de vias de alta velocidad mediante la optimizacion de su rigidez vertical. PhD Thesis. 268.

Indraratna, B.; Salim, W.; Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2011) Advanced Rail Geotechnology - Ballasted Track, CRC Press.

Manzo Constanzo, N.; Lopez Pita, A.; Fontsere, V.; Ausilio, A.; De Ambri, E.; Basei, E. (2015) NEOBALLAST: seeking for the ballast of the future. Proc Third Int Conf Railw Technol. pp 3-4.

Indraratna, B.; Nimbalkar, S.; Christie, D.; Rujikiatkamjorn, C.; Vinod, J. (2010) Field Assessment of the Performance of a Ballasted Rail Track with and without Geosynthetics. J Geotech Geoenvironmental Eng. 136: 907-917. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000312

Kennedy, J. (2011) A full-scale laboratory investigation into railway track substructure performance and ballast reinforcement, Heriot-Watt University.

Thomson, D.R.; Woodward, P.K. (2004) Track Stiffness Management Using the XiTrack Geocomposite. J Perm W Inst. 122: 1-12.

Woodward, P.K.; Thompson, D.; Banimahd, M. (2007) Geocomposite technology: reducing railway maintenance. Proc ICE - Transp 160. pp 109-115. https://doi.org/10.1680/tran.2007.160.3.109

Lakuakic, S.; Ahac, M.; Haladin, I. (2010) Track stability using ballast bonding method. 10th Slov Kongr o cestah prometu. Portoroz.

Fischer, S.; Horv·t, F. (2011) Investigation of the reinforcement and stabilisation effect of geogrid layers under railway ballast. Slovak J Civ Eng. 19: 22-30. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10189-011-0015-y

Laurans, E.; Pouligny, P.; Michel, W.; Ferrellec, J.; Geoffrey, G.; Bertholet, A. (2016) Surface gluing of ballast to reduce ballast creep on HSL. 11th World Congr Railw Res.

Momoya, Y.; Nakamura, T.; Fuchigami, S.; Takahashi, T. (2016) Improvement of Degraded Ballasted Track to Reduce Maintenance Work. Int J Railw Technol. 5: 31-54. https://doi.org/10.4203/ijrt.5.3.2

Horv·t, F.; Fischer, S.; Major, Z. (2013) Evaluation of Railway Track Geometry Stabilisation Effect of Geogrid Layers Under Ballast on the Basis of Laboratory Multilevel Shear Box Tests. Acta Tech Jaurinensis. 6: 21 44.

D´ Angelo, G.; Thom, N.H.; Lo Presti, D. (2016) Bitumen stabilized ballast: A potential solution for railway trackbed. Constr Build Mater. 124: 118-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.07.067

Nassar, A.I.; Mohammed, M.K.; Thom, N.H.; Parry, T. (2016) Characterization of High Performance Cold Bitumen Emulsion Mixtures for Surface Courses. Int J Pavement Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2016.1176165

Lesueur, D. (2015) Interview.

Aggregate Indutries UK Ltd (2013) Aggregates for railway ballast, Bardon Hill Quarry, (2013).

Janardhanam, R.; Desai, C.S. (1984) Three Dimensional Testing and Modeling of Ballast. J Geotech Eng. 110: 819. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1984)110:6(819)

Sevi, A.F. (2008) Physical modeling of railroad ballast using the parallel gradation scaling technique within the cyclical triaxial framework, Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Jiménez del Barco-Carrión, A.; García-Travé, G.; Moreno-Navarro, F.; Martínez-Montes, G.; Rubio-Gómez, M.C. (2016) Comparison of the effect of recycled crumb rubber and polymer concentration on the performance of binders for asphalt mixtures. Mater Construcc. 66 [323] e090. https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2016.08815

BS EN 12849:2009 (2009) Bitumen and bituminous binders - Determination of settling tendency of bituminous emulsions.

Thom, N.H.; Cooper, A.; Grafton, P.; Walker, C.; Wen, H.; Sha, R. (2013) A New Test for Base Material Characterisation. 2nd MESAT Conf Sustain Asph Pavements Middle East, MESAT-055.

D´ Angelo, G.; Thom, N.H.; Lo Presti, D. (2016) Using PUMA test to predict performance of stabilised ballasted trackbed. Third Int Conf Railw Technol Res Dev Maint. Cagliari, Italy. https://doi.org/10.4203/ccp.110.10

Keene, A.K.; Edil, T.B.; Tinjum, J.M. (2012) Mitigating Ballast Fouling Impact and Enhancing Rail Freight Capacity.

Ojum, C.K. (2015) The Design Optimisation of Cold Asphalt Emulsion Mixtures, The University of Nottingham.

Chomicz-kowalska, A.; Maciejewski, K. (2015) Multivariate optimization of recycled road base cold mixtures with foamed bitumen. Procedia Eng. 108: 436-444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.06.168

Derringer, G.C.; Suich, D. (1980) Simultaneous optimization of several response variables. J Qual Technol. 12: 214-219.

Ferreira, T.M.; Teixeira, P.F.; (2011) Impact of different drainage solutions in the behavior of railway trackbed layers due to atmospheric actions. 9th World Congr Railw Reserach - May 22-26. 1-14.

Su, B. (2005) Effects of Railroad Track Structural Components and Subgrade on Damping and Dissipation of Train Induced.

Jung, W.; Lee, S.; Lee, J.; Kwon, M.; Ju, B. (2014) Analytical Study of the Vibration Attenuation with respect to Trackbed Systems. Int J Railw. 7: 40-45. https://doi.org/10.7782/IJR.2014.7.2.40

Dersch, M.S.; Tutumluer, E.; Peeler, C.T.; Bower, D.K. (2010) Polyurethane Coating of Railroad Ballast Aggregate for Improved Performance. 2010 Jt Rail Conf Vol 1. ASME, pp 337-342. https://doi.org/10.1115/JRC2010-36215

Kennedy, J.; Woodward, P.K.; Medero, G.; Banimahd, M. (2013) Reducing railway track settlement using threedimensional polyurethane polymer reinforcement of the ballast. Constr Build Mater. 44: 615-625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.03.002

Woodward, P.K.; Kennedy, J.; Laghrouche, O.; Connolly, D.P.; Medero, G. (2014) Study of Railway Track Stiffness Modification by Polyurethane Reinforcement of the Ballast. Transp Geotech. 1: 214-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2014.06.005

Published

2017-09-30

How to Cite

D’Angelo, G., Lo Presti, D., & Thom, N. (2017). Optimisation of bitumen emulsion properties for ballast stabilisation. Materiales De Construcción, 67(327), e124. https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2017.04416

Issue

Section

Research Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)