This paper presents the results of a series of hollow cylinder tests carried out to investigate the role of drainage conditions on the response of railway track foundation materials during cyclic loading. Three sand–clay mixes were tested. It was found that, below a certain cyclic shear stress threshold, and depending on the drainage conditions, changes in principal stress direction should not adversely affect the cyclic stability of a railway foundation. However, significant stiffness degradation and failure may occur if this cyclic shear stress threshold is exceeded. The cyclic shear stress threshold increased with moderate additions of clay per unit volume of sand, and reduced significantly when specimen drainagewas prevented. For the materials tested, the cyclic shear stress threshold in free-to-drain conditions was generally similar to the cyclic shear stress in the soil immediately below a 0·3 m deep ballast bed, but comfortably greater than the cyclic stress at a depth of 1 m below the sleeper base. In undrainedconditions, the cyclic shear stress threshold was generally similar to the cyclic shear stress at a depth of 1 m below the sleeper base. This has implications for the suitability of such materials for railway track foundations.
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