Laboratory Assessment of the Role of Particle Size Distribution on the Deformation and Degradation of Ballast under Cyclic Loading
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VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 7
Abstract
The deformation and degradation of ballast is influenced by the size of the aggregates. In this study, a series of cyclic drained triaxial tests was conducted on ballast with different sizes using the large-scale cylindrical triaxial apparatus designed and built at the University of Wollongong, and two different frequencies of cyclic loading were used to simulate low-speed and high-speed trains. From the laboratory results, coarse particles experience less vertical and lateral strains, whereas the volumetric strains decrease and then increase as the coefficient of uniformity increases, regardless of the loading frequency. Resistance to deformation and degradation is found to be improved by increasing ballast density. Different trends between the extent of breakage and particle size are observed for different breakage indices, and accordingly the extent of breakage is characterized into two distinct zones, depending on the coefficient of uniformity (), where the significantly reduced breakage corresponds to a value of larger than 1.8. The variation of particle shape before and after test is also quantified. A new particle size distribution that incorporates the size characteristics is proposed, as a result of this study.
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Acknowledgments
The financial support provided by the China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 201306710022) is greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank Mr. Alan Grant, Mr. Ritchie McLean, and Mr. Libin Gong at University of Wollongong for their technical assistance in the laboratory.
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Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 7 • July 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 23, 2015
Accepted: Nov 6, 2015
Published online: Mar 4, 2016
Published in print: Jul 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Aug 4, 2016
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