Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board · 1987 · 16 citations · 0 references
EngineeringCivil EngineeringMaterials EngineeringMaintenance EngineeringStructural MaterialsTransportation EngineeringBallast ManagementConstruction Materials EvaluationMaterial PerformanceRail TransportRail TransportationStructural AssessmentBallastBallast DesignBallasting SystemsRail Track MaintenanceTrack-end Structure
A variety of laboratory tests has traditionally been used in the selection of a material and gradation for ballast. The results of the laboratory tests are commonly used to reject or accept material for use as ballast and rarely imply benefits or costs of selecting alternative materials or gradations. In this paper are presented the results of a track sampling and evaluation program to determine the performance of ballast, subballast, and the subgrade on Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail. A simple method was developed to determine if a significant portion of maintenance of the track structure is attributable to the subballast and subgrade. The concept of ballast life is presented with a relationship between ballast quality and grading. CP Rail specifications for the selection of a ballast material and the processing of ballast are also presented.