Mechanics of Ballast Compaction. Volume 4: Laboratory Investigation of the Effects of Field Compaction Mechanisms

摘要

This report describes a preliminary series of laboratory tests which attempt to simulate some of the effects of maintenance procedures and traffic on the physical state of ballast as measured by the ballast density test, plate load test, and lateral tie push test. The first part of the report examines ballast compaction with a commercial vibratory plate. The second part considers manual tie tamping. The third part investigates the effect of cyclic loading of ballast with a surface plate, which represents plates on crib and shoulder compaction machines. Vibratory compaction and traffic were shown to be effective means of compacting ballast. However, more research is needed to quantify the effects of the controlling variables.