A proposal for molding of reduced scale ballast samples for repeated load triaxial tests

Abstract

Considering the high costs involved in laboratory analysis of rail ballast geomechanical behaviour, several researchers have been discussing the possibility of using reduced scale samples. This paper presents a method for molding and densify reduced scale ballast samples in a ratio of 1:2,5 for cyclic triaxial tests as an alternative to fresh ballast material, with the purpose to achieve densify levels compatible with the compaction levels of railway lines in service. The results reveal that the the moulded specimens have kept the integrity of the latex membrane and presented an initial void ratio close to those obtained by dynamic or vibratory compaction methods found in technical literature. Additionally these specimens have been tested in monotonic triaxial tests and have revealed a dilatant behavior, as should be expected in materials with a good compaction level.