Abstract:
In many countries, old railways have to be renewed in order to fulfil modern quality
requirements, either related to higher travel speeds, to greater axle loads or to increased capacity.
Preferably, such renewal works should be carried out in an economical and environmental
sustainable process, taking into account the existing materials and the in situ conditions of the
structure.
This paper presents studies carried out in order to establish track structural configurations for the
rehabilitation of a long old international railway line in Africa that is expected to accommodate heavy
freight traffic in the near future.
The visual inspection performed throughout the line, the analysis of the characteristics of the existing
superstructure and the substructure survey made it possible to identify the thickness of the layers,
soils characteristics and to evaluate stiffness of the track bed.
An experimental study was carried out in a deactivated rail stretch in order to assess the feasibility of
different track structural configurations, in what regarded costs and construction processes. Results of
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys, Plate Load Tests (PLT) and Falling Weight Deflectometer
(FWD) tests performed on the experimental site are also presented herein.
A numerical modelling analysis of the different structural configurations that were tested in the
experimental site is also presented. Stress and deformation results are analysed and compared
