Two decades of advancement in process simulation testing of ballast strength, deformation, and degradation

Indraratna, B; Ngo, NT; Nimbalka, S; Rujikiatkamjorn, C

Two decades of advancement in process simulation testing of ballast strength, deformation, and degradation

Indraratna, B

Ngo, NT Nimbalka, S

Rujikiatkamjorn, C

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Publication Type:: Conference Proceeding
Citation:: ASTM Special Technical Publication, 2018, STP 1605 pp. 11 - 38
Issue Date:: 2018-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Indraratna, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9057-1514	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ngo, NT	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nimbalka, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1538-3396	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Rujikiatkamjorn, C	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	ASTM Special Technical Publication, 2018, STP 1605 pp. 11 - 38	en_US
dc.identifier.isbn	9780803176553	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0066-0558	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/130547
dc.description.abstract	© Copyright 2018 by ASTM International. This paper describes salient features of a set of large-scale ballast testing equipment developed at the University of Wollongong, Australia, and how the test results and research outcomes have contributed to transforming tracks in the Australian heavy haul and commuter networks, particularly with regards to the strength, deformation, and degradation of ballast. Ideally, ballast assemblies should be tested in prototype scale under actual loading conditions. This is because a reduction in particle sizes for testing in smaller equipment can reduce the internal angle of friction (shearing resistance) of the granular assembly in a macro sense, and the angularity of the particles in a micro sense, and hence the volumetric changes during the shearing process. In response to the worldwide lack of proper test facilities for ballast, the University of Wollongong has, since the early 1990s, designed and built a number of large-scale process simulation triaxial testing rigs. They are all custom made to minimize any boundary effects and also to evaluate the deformation and degradation of ballast, particularly the size, shape, and origin of aggregates used as ballast in Australian tracks. This triaxial process simulation equipment was originally used to characterize the behavior of coarse aggregate used for state railway standards for monotonie loading, but since then it has been fitted with dynamic actuators to simulate actual track conditions involving the true cyclic loading nature while also capturing the wheel-rail dynamics that correspond to high-speed commuter rail and fast heavy-haul operations. These tests invariably demonstrated completely different stress-strain and volumetric characteristics of ballast compared to conventional static or monotonie testing of the same test specimens.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	ASTM Special Technical Publication	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1520/STP160520l70029	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	en_US
dc.title	Two decades of advancement in process simulation testing of ballast strength, deformation, and degradation	en_US
dc.type	Conference Proceeding
utslib.citation.volume	STP 1605	en_US
utslib.for	0902 Automotive Engineering	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CBI - Centre for Built Infrastructure
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	STP 1605	en_US

Abstract:

© Copyright 2018 by ASTM International. This paper describes salient features of a set of large-scale ballast testing equipment developed at the University of Wollongong, Australia, and how the test results and research outcomes have contributed to transforming tracks in the Australian heavy haul and commuter networks, particularly with regards to the strength, deformation, and degradation of ballast. Ideally, ballast assemblies should be tested in prototype scale under actual loading conditions. This is because a reduction in particle sizes for testing in smaller equipment can reduce the internal angle of friction (shearing resistance) of the granular assembly in a macro sense, and the angularity of the particles in a micro sense, and hence the volumetric changes during the shearing process. In response to the worldwide lack of proper test facilities for ballast, the University of Wollongong has, since the early 1990s, designed and built a number of large-scale process simulation triaxial testing rigs. They are all custom made to minimize any boundary effects and also to evaluate the deformation and degradation of ballast, particularly the size, shape, and origin of aggregates used as ballast in Australian tracks. This triaxial process simulation equipment was originally used to characterize the behavior of coarse aggregate used for state railway standards for monotonie loading, but since then it has been fitted with dynamic actuators to simulate actual track conditions involving the true cyclic loading nature while also capturing the wheel-rail dynamics that correspond to high-speed commuter rail and fast heavy-haul operations. These tests invariably demonstrated completely different stress-strain and volumetric characteristics of ballast compared to conventional static or monotonie testing of the same test specimens.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/130547