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42 views

Ballast

Uploaded by

CTR KMRL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BALLAST

BALLAST

Ballast is a layer of broken stone, gravel, moorum or any other


gritty material placed and packed below and around sleepers.

The Quality of ballast should be such that it is neither porous


nor flakes off under vagaries of weather.
Functions of Ballast:
• Distributes the load from Sleeper to larger area of Formation.
• It provides Drainage
• It gives longitudinal and lateral stability to the track
• It provides effective means of maintaining evenness &
alignment of the track
• Affords a convenient medium for packing the track to
maintain line and level.
Type of Ballast:

a. Sand Ballast: Primarily used for Wooden & Steel sleepers where traffic is
very low. It has good drainage properties but being light, blows off
easily. It causes excessive wear of rail top and moving parts of rolling
stock.

b. Moorum Ballast: Used for new construction and also as Sub-ballast. It


prevents water percolating into formation also used as blanketing
material black cotton soil.
c. Broken stone ballast: Mostly used in all Railways. It generally
procured from hard stones like granite, quartzite etc.
BALLAST CUSHION
• The depth of ballast below the bottom of sleeper normally measured
under the rail seat is called ballast cushion.

• Min. of 300mm Cushion ballast is required for Mainline tracks and


250mm in Yards/Depot Lines.

Minimum Depth of Cushion ballast


• The load coming on the sleeper is transferred through the medium of
ballast to the formation.
• The pressure distribution of ballast section depends upon size &
shape of ballast & degree of consolidation etc.
• Dispersion of pressure in the shape of “BULB” for simple calculation
purpose load dispersion assumed as 45 degree to vertical.
• For ensuring the load transfer evenly on the formation, the dispersion
lines should not overlap each other.
• Min. depth of cushion ballast is 200mm.
BALLAST PROFILE

It is mainly determined by :
• BALLAST CUSHION
• SHOULDER BALLAST
• CRIB BALLAST
• SIDE SLOPE OF BALLAST
SPECIFICATION FOR TRACK BALLAST
These specifications will be applicable for stone ballast to be used
for all types of sleepers on normal track, turnouts, tunnels and
deck slabs etc. on all routes.

General

Basic Quality:

Ballast should be hard durable and as far as possible angular


along edges/corners, free from weathered portions of parent rock,
organic impurities and inorganic residues.

Particle Shape:

Ballast should be cubical in shape as far as possible. Individual


pieces should not be flaky and should have generally flat faces
with not more than two rounded/surrounded faces.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Ballast sample should satisfy the following physical


properties in accordance with IS: 2386 Pt. IV- 1963
when tested as per the procedure given in RDSO
detailed specifications.

- Aggregate Abrasion Value : 30% Max.


- Aggregate Impact Value : 20% Max.
- Flakiness Index : 50% Max
- Elongation Index : 50% Max
The “Water Absorption” tested as per IS2386 Pt.-III
1963 following the procedure given in in RDSO should
not be more than 1%.
SIZE AND GRADATION
Ballast should satisfy the following size and
gradation:
a) Retained on 65 mm sq. Mesh sieve 5%
Maximum.
b) Retained on 40 mm sq. Mesh sieve 40% -60%
for machine crushed ballast.
c) Retained on 20 mm sq. Mesh sieve not less
than 98% for machine crushed. Not less than 95% for
hand broken.
Method of Seive Analysis
i) The Screen for sieving the ballast shall be of square mesh and shall not
be less than 100 cm in length 70 cm in breadth and 10 cm in height on sides. The
following tolerances in the size of holes for 65 mm and 20 mm sieve shall be
permitted.
65 mm Square Mesh Sieve Plus Minus 1.5 mm
40 mm Square Mesh Sieve Plus Minus 1.5 mm
20 mm Square Mesh Sieve Plus Minus 1.0 mm
The Squareness of the individual hole in the sieves viz. 65 mm, 40 mm
and 20 mm should be ensured. The sieves to be used for the ballast measurement
shall be obtained from approved suppliers of the Railway.
ii) While carrying out sieve analysis, the screen shall not be kept inclined, but held
horizontally and shaken vigorously. The pieces of ballast retained on the screen
can be turned with hand to see if they pass through but should not be pushed
through the sieve.
iii) The percentage passing through or retained on the sieve shall be determined by
weight (volume by water displacement method).
Supply in Stacks
Stack Vol. less than 100 Stack Vol. more than 100
cum cum
a) Size & Gradation
i) No. of tests One for each stack One for each stack
ii) Size of one sample 0.027 cum 0.027 cum for every 100
cum
b) Abrasion value, impact One test for every 2000 cum
value & water absorption
testing frequency
BALLAST BED CLEANING

The ballast bed fulfills important functions as the binding element


between sleepers and substructure.
Purpose of cleaning ballast:
• The ballast bed distributes the loads of the trains uniformly onto the
track substructure and assures a firm, unshifting position of the
sleepers. To withstand these dynamic impacts the ballast bed has to be
very elastic.

• Fouling occurs under normal operational loads. This causes the edges
of the ballast stones to break off, settlement of the stones and friction
processes. Overall, this causes an increase in the proportion of fines
which reduces the elasticity of the track, the water permeability and the
durability of the track geometry.

• As a consequence, there will be irregular settlement of the track which


tamping can compensate only for short periods. From a certain point
in time it will be more economical to clean the entire ballast bed.
How to clean efficiently :

• Using ballast bed cleaning machines, the ballast can be


cleaned without dismantling the track.
• The central features are powerful scraper chains that excavate
the fouled ballast and at the same time prepare the foundation
for the new ballast.
• The ballast is cleaned in large oscillating screens with several
screening levels which ensure optimum quality.
• The clean ballast is returned to the track directly behind the
excavating chain.
• The residue from the cleaning is passed into a spoil conveyor
and transport system.
BCM (Ballast
Cleaning Machine)

Shoulder Ballast
Cleaning Machine
CONNECT TO
PROSPER

Kochi Metro Rail Limited


A Joint Venture company of Govt. of India & Govt. of Kerala
8th Floor, Revenue Tower, Park Avenue, Kochi - 682011, India
Ph: 0484 2350 455 ext. 121 | Fax: 0484 2380 686
[email protected]
www.kochimetro.org

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