Ballast degradation: Effect of particle size and shape using Los Angeles Abrasion test and image analysis

Abstract

Ballast track is the most widely used track for the railway transport, and ballast bed plays a significant role to provide resistances during train operation. Generally, the ballast bed consists of crushed stones. To achieve the mitigation of ballast degradation, the first priority is to describe the degradation development and to study its effect factors. The influence of ballast morphology (particle size and shape) on ballast degradation is examined here using the Los Angeles Abrasion (LAA 1) test in combination with 3-D image analysis. LAA tests are used to obtain the deteriorated ballast. Then, based on the 3-D images, the changes of ballast particles after the tests were analysed. To quantify the ballast degradation (abrasion and breakage), the Abrasion Depth based on the analysis of 3-D images were proposed, while ballast breakage was estimated using the broken particles ratio. The results have shown that ballast degradation is directly related to the ballast morphology. The proposed image-based procedure can effectively be applied to assess ballast degradation. The results can be used for ballast material standardization, modelling of ballast degradation process and maintenance cycle prediction.

Strength and abrasive properties of andesite: relationships between strength parameters measured on cylindrical test specimens and micro-Deval values—a tool for durability assessment

“…where Δ FI and Δ MDE are the ratios of the flakiness indexes and micro-Deval test results which were made in pair, FI 1 and M DE,1 are the test results of the sample with the smaller FI value in the pair and FI 2 and M DE,2 are the test results of the sample with the higher FI value in the pair. Previous studies (Rigopoulos et al 2013;Bobály and Gálos 2016;Guo et al 2018) suggested that the shape of the particles affect aggregate properties. Bobály and Gálos (2016) Fig.…”

“…According to the results, the flaky grains reduce the resistance to abrasion or fragmentation. Guo et al (2018) studied the effect of grain size and shape on resistance to fragmentation with image analysis. Imaging techniques were also used to measure and describe the aggregate shape properties (Profitis et al 2012(Profitis et al , 2013 or the grain size (Profitis et al 2013).…”

3D Analysis of gravel surface texture

“…3D laser scanners have been used for scanning large particles, such as ballast in pavements (e.g. [27][28][29]). Here, a 3D laser scanner is employed (LPX-60, Roland DG Corporation, Hamamatsu, Japan).…”

Photogrammetry for digital reconstruction of railway ballast particles – A cost-efficient method

“…Laser scanning of ballast, which can be traced to at least Tolppanen (2001), is becoming the de facto method for ballast particle scanning. Works such as (Anochie-Boateng et al, 2013;Mvelase et al, 2017) or, more recently, Guo (2018) who proposes new parameters for ballast degradation based solely on analysis of 3D digital particle models, have employed laser scanning to investigate particles from different rocks, before and after testing, with coarser and finer meshes. Paixão et al (2018) proposes a low-cost photogrammetry method that compares, in many aspects, favourably with laser scanning.…”