Numerical study on ballast disturbance and maintenance performance of tamping and stone-blowing

Chen, Cheng; Li, Piao-yin; McDowell, Glenn; Zhang, Lei; Rao, Wen-jin

Abstract

Ballasted trackbeds are prone to settlement and degradation under long-term train loads, effective and timely maintenance is crucial for extending the lifespan of trackbeds and ensuring the safety of railway operations. Ballast maintenance, such as tamping and stone-blowing, is essential to extend trackbed lifespan, yet systematic comparative research on their impact on track structure disturbance and long-term effectiveness remains limited. By using a discrete-finite element coupling method to construct a comprehensive trackbed structural model, considering the discrete element ballast layer, subballast layer, and the finite element flexible subgrade layer, the study contrasts and analyzes the disturbance effects of tamping and stone-blowing operations on the trackbed structure, evaluating their post-maintenance effectiveness. The results indicate that the disturbance to the trackbed structure caused by stone-blowing operations is overall lower than that caused by tamping, especially during the inserting stage and blowing stage. Furthermore, the subballast effectively diffuses and attenuates the stress transferred from the ballast to the subgrade. Under subsequent train loadings, stone-blowing maintenance performs better than tamping in delaying the settlement of each layer of the trackbed and improving the stress distribution across these layers. Additionally, the study revealed that the interaction between ballast and sub-ballast layers significantly influences maintenance quality. This provides new insights and experiences for trackbed maintenance technologies.

Citation

Chen, C., Li, P.-Y., McDowell, G., Zhang, L., & Rao, W.-J. (2025). Numerical study on ballast disturbance and maintenance performance of tamping and stone-blowing. Construction and Building Materials, 460, Article 139837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.139837

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 30, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 4, 2025
• Publication Date: Jan 24, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jan 10, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 5, 2026
• Journal: Construction and Building Materials
• Print ISSN: 0950-0618
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-0526
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 460
• Article Number: 139837
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.139837
• Keywords: Ballast maintenance, Tamping, Stone-blowing, DEM-MFBD coupling method, Subballast
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/43946177
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061824049791?via%3Dihub#ab0010