Background:
For rail to be
the most economic and effective land transport, there is an ever
increasing demand for greater reliability of track for heavier and
faster trains.
Ballast and
sub-grade (formation soils) performance is a major contributor to
track reliability, hence its degradation is a major detriment
affecting railway tracks. There is a need for a new technology to
identify and remove risks of track deformations and relevant
instability ascribed to load condition and ballast fouling.
Objective:
The purpose of this project is to
achieve technological advancement of rail track design and
maintenance in order to eliminate risks of post-construction track
deformations and associated instability attributed to high impact
load condition and ballast fouling.
Project scope:
The project will examine the
effects of ballast fouling as well as the effects of impact loads
on track degradation and develop effective integrated design and
maintenance processes.
Benefits:
The findings from this project will
contribute to increased average train speeds, greater track
capacity and reliable maintenance planning, especially for heavy
haul.
Expected outcomes:
Integrated design and maintenance
processes including the detailed ballast-sleeper-formation
interaction.
Project
timeframe:
3.5 years
Project Chair:
David Christie, Senior Geotechnical Adviser, RailCorp
Project Leader:
Prof. Buddhima Indraratna,
Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Wollongong
Tel: 02 4221 3046
Email: indra@uow.edu.au
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