Design and construction of backfills for railway track transition zones

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Paixao, A (Author) Other; Fortunato, E (Author) Other; Rui Calçada (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit

Vol. 229 No. 3

Pages: 58-70

ISSN: 0954-4097

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 53 Citations

Scopus - 73 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-3AV

DOI: 10.1177/0954409713499016

Abstract (EN): The initial geometry of a railway track continually degrades over its life-cycle. Changes in the track alignment give rise to variations in the dynamic axle load which accelerate track degradation, with consequences for maintenance and availability of the line. This behaviour is particularly evident at some critical locations that are associated with abrupt changes in the track's vertical stiffness, such as transitions to bridges or other structures. In order to mitigate this problem, careful design and construction is required, for which several recommendations have been suggested in the literature. However, studies based on the maintenance records of existing high-speed lines have shown that the problem of track degradation associated with stiffness variations is far from being solved. This paper presents a short review on the design of transition zones. A case study on the design and construction of a transition zone on a new Portuguese railway line is analysed. Results of conventional laboratory and cyclic load triaxial testing on granular materials and in situ mechanical characterization of the layers are presented. Relevant aspects regarding the construction are addressed and discussed. The results obtained at the substructure level seem to indicate that the design of the transition zone was successful in minimizing settlement and achieving a gradual stiffness increase as a bridge is approached.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13