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Application of Recycled Rubber Mats for Improved Performance of Ballasted Tracks

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Advances in Geotechnical Engineering & Geoenvironmental Engineering (GeoChina 2021)

Part of the book series: Sustainable Civil Infrastructures ((SUCI))

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Abstract

This paper summaries the results of a study on the use of recycled rubber mats for improved performance of ballasted tracks. One solution used to minimise ballast degradation (breakage) is to use an innovative recycled rubber mat, known as rubber-energy-absorbing drainage mat (READ), manufactured from end-of-life tires to provide a cost-effective solution to conventional tracks. When placed underneath the ballast, the energy-absorbing nature of the rubber mats decreases the load that is transferred to the ballast, so the ballast experiences less deformation and breakage. In this study, a series of large-scale triaxial tests are conducted to investigate the performance of the READS in the attenuation of cyclic and dynamic loads and subsequent reducing of ballast degradation. Numerical modelling using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is conducted to investigate the improved performance of ballast in a micromechanical perspective. Evolutions of contact forces and contour stress distributions during cyclic tests are investigated through coupled DEM-FEM model.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge funding provided by the Australian Government through the ITTC-Rail, (IC170100006). The authors are grateful to the support from organizations including RM CRC and Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) through Project R2.5.1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Transport Research Center, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Trung Ngo & Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn

  2. Civil Engineering and Director, Transport Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Buddhima Indraratna

Authors
  1. Trung Ngo
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  2. Buddhima Indraratna
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  3. Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Trung Ngo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kiewit, Englewood, CO, USA

    Shanzhi Shu

  2. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Jinfeng Wang

  3. Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA

    Mena Souliman

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Ngo, T., Indraratna, B., Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2021). Application of Recycled Rubber Mats for Improved Performance of Ballasted Tracks. In: Shu, S., Wang, J., Souliman, M. (eds) Advances in Geotechnical Engineering & Geoenvironmental Engineering. GeoChina 2021. Sustainable Civil Infrastructures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80142-7_3

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