Railway track bed consists of layers of ballast and subballast on subgrade soils. Ballast degradation can rapidly occur under heavy axle loadings over soft subgrade soils. Ballast excessive deformation and failure can lead to train speed reduction, track down time, and costly maintenance and repairs. Geocell stabilization of ballast reduces vertical pressures distributed onto the subgrade, prevents subgrade bearing failure, and reduces subgrade deformation. Geocell-stabilized ballast significantly reduces ballast movement, aggregate rotation and breakage, and rail settlement, thus resulting in increased railway track life and long-term performance. This webinar will start with possible problems of ballast degradation, explain mechanisms of geocell stabilization, demonstrate benefits of geocell stabilization through past and recent research, provide guidance of design, and present case studies of geocell stabilization to solve real problems in the field.
Learning Objectives:
• Understand the benefits of geocell-stabilized ballast from past research and testing
• Learn how geocell stabilization can reduce vertical ballast pressure and ballast movement
• Understand the typical applications for geocell ballast stabilization
• Learn how to apply geocell stabilization to extend rail life and reduce maintenance
Speaker: Professor Dr. Jie Han, Ph.D., PE, F.ASCE
Glenn L. Parker Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Kansas
