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O. Barbir, B. Antony, C. Koczwara, F. Auer, D. Adam, J. Pistrol, F. Kopf:
"Automation of the tamping process";
Vortrag: 13. Österreichische Geotechniktagung, Wien; 19.04.2022 - 20.04.2022; in: "Unwägbarkeiten in Planung & Ausführung von geotechnischen Maßnahmen", ÖIAV, 13 (2022), S. 127 - 136.

Continuous increase of railway traffic loads forecasted for the next decade will present a major challenge for infrastructure managers. An increased train frequency demands even higher track availability while at the same time shortening the available time frame for maintenance work. As a result, track maintenance has to be planned precisely and performed more effectively. In addition, higher traffic loads will also influence ballast condition by causing increased ballast breakdown in combination with infiltration of fine particles from the surface or subgrade. Together with an increased sleeper wear this will result in a decrease of pore space and permeability of the ballast bed. During this process, individual particles that make up the ballast bed undergo changes in shape, grain roughness and surface structure which are accompanied by a significant decrease in the track ballast internal friction angle, shear strength and overall stability. This process is widely known as ballast fouling and is causing irregular settlements and deviations from the nominal track geometry. The desired track geometry is usually restored using automated tamping machines. They reposition the track and create a resilient support for each sleeper. This is achieved by compacting the ballast matrix directly under the sleeper by dynamic excitation, i.e. oscillating movement of the tamping tines. Changes of the ballast condition and properties require precise adjustment of tamping parameters and machine settings that ultimately influence the resulting track quality. In the first instance the determination and optimization of decisive tamping parameters is necessary to develop a condition-based tamping process thus building a base on which the automation of the tamping process can be built.

Soil dynamics, track tamping, railway engineering

https://publik.tuwien.ac.at/files/publik_303890.pdf