Engineering Use of Geotextiles in Railroad Track Construction and Rehabilitation

摘要

This report presents recommendations for the use of geotextiles in railroad trackconstruction and rehabilitation projects. Past performance of railroad track having been built or rehabilitated using geotextiles has varied. A number of factors influence the performance of a geotextile in a railroad environment. Among these are the physical properties of the geotextile such as material type, weight, and strength characteristics; depth of installation; installation techniques; subgrade conditions upon placement; type and size of ballast material; amount of traffic; axle loadings; and environmental factors. Poor performance of geotextiles in railroad applications is often due to puncturing as a result of the extremely harsh conditions that exist at the ballast-subgrade interface. This puncturing and subsequent poor geotextile performance appear to result from improper geotextile selection for existing conditions, inadequate depth of placement, improper installation or construction practices, inadequate provision for drainage away from the track, or a combination of the above.