MECHANICS-BASED MODEL TO PREDICT BALLAST-RELATED MAINTENANCE TIMING AND COSTS

This paper discusses a mechanistic method to estimate the settlement of track due to ballast strain udner traffic loading. The timing of ballast maintenance may then be predicted based on a limiting amount of track settlement. An economic analysis may be used to choose the lowest cost alternative of several ballast maintenance techniques. Also, the most cost effective ballast material may be chosen based on comparative cost. A ballast condition investigation is proposed which serves to provide the information needed for maintenance technique selection.