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O. Barbir, B. Antony, F. Kopf, J. Pistrol, D. Adam, F. Auer:
"Compaction energy as an indicator for ballast quality";
Talk: 12th World Congress on Railway Research, Tokyo, Japan; 2019-10-28 - 2019-11-01; in: "12th World Congress on Railway Research - Congress Proceedings", (2019), 1 - 6.

The tamping process is the core maintenance activity in ballasted track. It is crucial to the economical service life of the track and essential in restoring track geometry for safe train operations. Over the history of railways, the process advanced from manual to mechanical work and the working parameters were optimised based on empirical observations. Nowadays, the tamping process is the result of experience and knowledge from railway operations worldwide. The current practice of track maintenance is entirely based on modern tamping machines that provide a wide range of advanced functions, such as the 4-sleeper-tamping mechanism, dynamic track stabilisation and combined levelling and lining of the tracks. The purpose of this research is to determine and optimise the relevant parameters for successful ballast compaction and to ensure durability of the track geometry after tamping. Conducted investigation is based on in-situ measurements followed by a parameter study based on the semi-analytical mechanical model of the tamping unit-ballast matrix interaction. In the scope of this research project, a comprehensive study of different ballast conditions is carried out in order to improve ballast serviceability and track life cycle performance.

track tamping, track ballast compaction, semi-analytical ballast modelling

https://publik.tuwien.ac.at/files/publik_282430.pdf