Accumulation of the Crushing Products in Ballast Layer under Cyclic Load

Abstract

Increasing of ballast layer bearing capacity is a widespread problem during the operation and maintenance of a railway track nowadays. It is known that with an increase of the passed tonnage, the ballast layer tends to become contaminated both by the products of its own crushing and by the external weeds which rapidly leads to the strength and operational characteristics degradation of the crushed stone ballast. In this study, an attempt was made to simulate the effect of cyclic load from rolling stock on the ballast layer and to determine the extent of wear of crushed stone ballast of category II in accordance with GOST 7392.