Investigation of behavior of coated ballasts

Recently, railway transportation has gained great importance in terms of transportation. Nowadays, high-speed trains provide more comfortable and easy transportation. Many studies have been carried out to improve railway line performance. Most of the studies in this area have been done to extend the comfort and durability of the railway line and the service life of the railway ballast material, which deteriorates very quickly. In this thesis, two different types of railway ballast materials, basalt and limestone, were used. Two different types of railway ballast were coated with ballast bonding agent (BBA) and their mechanical, physical and durability performances were examined accordingly. Los Angeles and micro deval tests were performed to simulate the physical and dynamic effects that the rail ballast material is exposed to during its service life. Specific gravity and water absorption tests were performed and the changes of the ballast aggregates after coating with ballast bonding agent were observed. Fouling index due to the crumbling of the ballast material during the Los Angeles test was determined, change in the fouling index and the repair maintenance time were examined when the amount of ballast bonding agent was increased. Drainage test was carried out on the drainage test sample prepared by using different ratios of ballast binding agent and it was seen whether there is a possible disadvantage that the ballast bonding material may create in drainage. At the same time, the advantages of angular railway ballast aggregates, which are easy to break, in the service life of the railway line, have been examined with these studies.