<
https://www.railexpress.com.au/trial-finds-world-first-system-protects-tracks-from-damage/>
"A world-first system of shock absorbers made from recycled tyres has been
shown to be effective in protecting railway tracks from damage.
The new technology was tested over a two-year period by a collaborative team
from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney Trains, Transport for
NSW, and industry partners EcoFlex and Bridgestone.
Researchers installed track sections with a rubber underlay made from tyres
alongside conventional track sections for a direct comparison, monitoring
vibration, track settlement, and ballast degradation at a live Sydney Trains
freight line in Chullora.
The results showed that the sections with the rubber underlay showed
“significantly less degradation and greater stability”.
To make the shock absorbers, tyre cells are placed in a specific layout made
from recycled tyres infilled with waste materials such as spent ballast and
coal wash.
Recycled rubber grids cast from worn out conveyor belts from mining sites are
also placed directly beneath the ballast.
The technology addresses a long-standing engineering challenge: the high cost
of maintaining conventional tracks.
UTS researcher Distinguished Professor Buddhima Indraratna, the original
inventor of this technique, and Director of the UTS Transport Research Centre,
said the rubber-based underlay effectively protects the ballast, preventing it
from being pulverised and extending the life of the entire track structure.
“Additionally, the underlay controls the way the train load is distributed to
the deeper, softer and often wet soil beneath the track, preventing
unacceptable soil settlement and weakening of the overlying track.
“This translates directly to lower maintenance costs, fewer track closures for
the public, and improved network reliability.”
Dr Richard Kelly, Chief Technical Principal for Geotechnical Engineering at
SMEC Australia and an advisor on this project, said: “If widely adopted by
railway asset owners, this will save Australian rail industry millions of
dollars annually by reducing the demand for freshly quarried rock for ballast
that is very expensive and not carbon friendly.”
The project also provides a novel way to address tyre waste – with over 50
million end-of-life tyres generated in Australia each year."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
