@inproceedings{05039afb99c5438f90119072ad1a830c,
title = "Use of ballast support condition back-calculator for quantification of ballast pressure distribution under concrete sleepers",
abstract = "In North America, most rail corridors are constructed using ballasted track. Monitoring the ballast support condition and improving upon current sub-structure/ballast maintenance strategies will ensure safe railroad operations. However, it is inherently difficult to evaluate the pressure distribution at the sleeper-ballast interface. Researchers at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have developed an instrumentation strategy and analysis tool, the support condition back-calculator, to quantify ballast pressure distributions under concrete sleepers without interrupting the traffic. This laboratory-validated non-intrusive method uses concrete sleepers{\textquoteright} bending moment profile and rail seat loads as inputs to back-calculate the reaction distribution through the use of an optimization algorithm. To better understand the in-service ballast support conditions, this technique was deployed in the fieldona Class I heavy haul freight railroad in the United States. Concrete surface strain gauges were installed on concrete sleepers to measure their in-field bending moments. Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD) were used to measure rail seat input loads. The focus of this paper is to quantify the ballast pressure distributions beneath concrete sleepers on the heavy-haul tangent track. An evaluation of ballast pressure distribution variations between adjacent sleepers and through tonnage accumulation are also included. The information presented in this paper demonstrates the potential of the back-calculator for monitoring the ballast condition and will assist the rail industry in optimizing tamping cycle, enhancing safety, and developing more representative sleeper flexural designs for North America railroad applications.",
author = "Z. Gao and Dersch, {M. S.} and Y. Qian and Csenge, {M. V.} and Edwards, {J. R.}",
note = "Portions of this research effort were funded by U.S. National University Rail Center (NURail Center). The authors are grateful for the guidance and valuable feedback provided by Henry Wolf and Prof. Ouyang Yanfeng from UIUC during the development of the back-calculator. The authors would also like to thank Phanuwat Kaewpanya, and Quinn Todzo for their assistance with field experimentation and data processing. J. Riley Edwards has been supported in part by grants to the UIUC Railroad Engineering Program from CN, Hanson Professional Services, and the George Krambles Transportation Scholarship Fund.; 10th International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, BCRRA 2017 ; Conference date: 28-06-2017 Through 30-06-2017",
year = "2017",
doi = "10.1201/9781315100333-258",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "9781138295957",
series = "Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, BCRRA 2017",
publisher = "CRC Press/Balkema",
pages = "1955--1960",
editor = "Andreas Loizos and Al-Qadi, {Imad L.} and Scarpas, {A. Tom}",
booktitle = "Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, BCRRA 2017",
}