Materials and Manufacturing

Application of geogrids for minimising track deformation and degradation under high frequency cyclic and heavy haul loading

Global Synthetics (Amir Shahkolahi) / Foundation QA / University of Wollongong (Buddhima Indraratna)

Research summary

This project investigated the benefit of geogrid materials underneath the rail ballast. The ballast, made of crushed rock, can subside and degrade through constant use, so adding geogrid underneath may provide for stabilisation of the ballast that requires less maintenance. This research involved testing the performance of the geogrid by simulating rail loading and vibration in the lab.

Start/end date

22 June 2017 to 31 March 2020

Total contracted budget (including in-kind)

$1,724,516

Key achievements

• A series of large-scale tests of the rail ballast with and without geogrid reinforcement under cyclic loading conditions were carried out to quantify the benefits of including geogrids.
• Test results verified that geogrids and geogrid composites can be used successfully to reduce the breakage and settlement of the ballast and rail track.
• Modelling was also conducted so that different geogrid properties could be examined, in future allowing manufacturers of geogrid materials to experiment with different materials and geometries.
• The team were able to provide data and reports to assist rail engineers in design the incorporation of geogrids into railway construction.

Publications

Ferreira, F., Indraratna, B. and Shahkolahi, A. (2018). Behaviour of geogrid­reinforced ballast under impact loading conditions, 4th International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, Barcelona, Spain, September 2018.

Indraratna, B., Ferreira, F., Qi, Y. and Ngo, T. (2018). Application of geoinclusions for sustainable rail infrastructure under increased axle loads and higher speeds. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 3(1), 69.

Indraratna, B., Ferreira, F., Qi, Y. and Sun, Q. (2018). The role of energy absorbing materials in heavy haul rail for minimising track degradation, 4th International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, Barcelona, Spain, September 2018.

Indraratna, B., Ngo, N. and Ferreira, F. (2019). Advancements in Track Technology: Use of Artificial inclusions for stabilising Transport Infrastructure. 13th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ2019), pp. 1-6, Perth, WA, April 2019.

Indraratna, B., Ngo, N., Nimbalkar, S., and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2018). Two decades of advancement in process simulation testing of ballast strength, deformation, and degradation. Railroad Ballast Testing and Properties, ASTM STP1605, T. D. Stark, R. Szecsy, and R. H. Swan, Jr., Eds., ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2018, pp. 1–28.

Indraratna, B., Ngo, N. and Rujikiatkamjom, C. (2019). Advancement of Rail Ballast Testing Methodologies and Design Implications. Geo-Congress 2020

Indraratna, B., Ngo, N. and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2018). Advancement in track technology – composite foundations for increased speed and axle loads. Conference on Railway Excellence (CORE2018), pp. 442-451. United States: Informit.

Indraratna, B., Ngo, N. and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2017). Improved Performance of Ballasted Rail Tracks Using Plastics and Rubber Inclusions. Procedia Engineering, 189, pp: 207-214.

Indraratna, B., Ngo, N. Qi, Y, and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2020). Track Geomechanics for Future Railways: Use of Artificial Inclusions. ICTG2020 – 4th International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics. Chicago, USA.

Indraratna B., Ngo N., Sun Q., Rujikiatkamjorn C. and Ferreira F. (2019). Concepts and Methodologies for Track Improvement and Associated Physical Modelling and Field Monitoring. In: Sundaram R., Shahu J., Havanagi V. (eds) Geotechnics for Transportation Infrastructure. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 28, Page: 219-246. Springer, Singapore.

Indraratna, B., Ngo, N., Sun, Q., Rujikiatkamjorn, C. and Bessa Ferreira, F. (2018). Concepts and Methodologies for Track Improvement and Associated Physical Modelling and Field Monitoring. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Geotechnics of Transportation Infrastructure (ISGTI 2018) (pp. 24-36). India: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Indraratna, B., Qi, Y., Jayasuriya C., Heitor A. and Navaratnarajah, S. Use of rubber tyre elements in track stabilization. Invited keynote paper for 15th International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering, 2019. Lahore, Pakistan.

Indraratna, B., Qi, Y., Ngo, T., Rujikiatkamjorn, C., Neville, T., Ferreira, F. and Shahkolahi, A. (2019). Use of Geogrids and Recycled Rubber in Railroad Infrastructure for Enhanced Performance, Geosciences, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 30.

Jayasuriya, C., Indraratna, B. and Bessa Ferreira, F. 2018. The Use of Under Sleeper Pads to Improve the Performance of Rail Tracks. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Geotechnics of Transportation Infrastructure (ISGTI 2018) (pp. 474-474). Delhi, India

Jayasuriya, C., Indraratna, B. and Ferreira, F. The Use of Under Sleeper Pads to Improve the Performance of Rail Tracks 2020. Indian Geotechnical Journal, DOI: 1007/s40098-020-00418-2.

Jayasuriya, C, Indraratna, B. and Ngo, T. 2019. Experimental Study to Examine the Role of Under Sleeper Pads for Improved Performance of Ballast under Cyclic Loading, Transportation Geotechnics, vol. 19, pp. 61-7

Jayasuriya, C., Indraratna, B. and Rujikiatkarmjorn, C. 2020. Application of elastic inclusions to improve ballasted track performances. Geo-Congress, Minnesota, USA.

Jayasuriya,C., Indraratna, B., Rujikiatkamjom, C. and Navaratnaraja, S. (2019). Application of elastic inclusions to improve ballasted track performances. Geo-Congress 2020

Ngo, N. and Indraratna, B. (2019). Interface behavior of geogrid-reinforced sub-ballast: Laboratory and discrete element modeling. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering. 29: 195-209.

Ngo, N. and Indraratna, B. (2018). Interface behavior of geogrid-reinforced sub-ballast: Laboratory and discrete element modeling. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Geotechnics of Transportation Infrastructure (ISGTI 2018) (pp. 475-481). India: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.​

Ngo, N., Indraratna, B. and Ferreira, F. (2018). Modelling of geogrid-reinforced ballast under direct shear and impact loading, 11th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Seoul, Korea, September 2018.

Ngo, N., Indraratna, B., Ferreira, F. and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2018). Improved performance of geosynthetics enhanced ballast: laboratory and numerical studies. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Ground Improvement, pp: 1-21.

Ngo, N., Indraratna, B. and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2017). A study of the geogrid–subballast interface via experimental evaluation and discrete element modelling. Granular Matter, 19(3), pp: 54.

Ngo, N, Indraratna, B., and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2017). Performance assessment of geocell-reinforced subballast: modelling and design implications. Geotechnical Frontiers 2017, Orlando, Florida USA.

Ngo, N., Indraratna, B. and Rujikiatkamjorn, C. (2017). Stabilisation of track substructure with geo-inclusions   – experimental evidence and DEM simulation. International Journal of Rail Transportation, 5(2), pp: 63-86.