Track-bound substructure rehabilitation has been used in Austria for about 25 years to efficiently rehabilitate and modernize the aging track network. With this rehabilitation method, the track ballast and the underlying formation protective layer (FPL) can be removed and relaid without having to remove the track grid first. In Austria, the AHM 800-R subgrade rehabilitation machine is predominantly used for track-bound subgrade rehabilitation. Compaction of the newly placed FPL material is carried out by means of six parallel plate compactors. In the course of compaction controls on sections rehabilitated with the AHM, it became apparent that the specified compaction criteria for the FPL were not met in some places. An insufficiently compacted FPL results in a significant reduction in the service life of a section of railway, which leads to much higher maintenance costs for the entire rail network.

Accordingly, the focus of the research project is on the optimization of FPL compaction, whereby the behavior of the plate compactors during compaction of the FPL material has a very great influence on the compaction result. The investigations and field tests carried out as part of the research project therefore deal with the soil mechanics principles of compacting the FPL material, the analysis of the movement behavior of plate compactors, and the interaction between the plate compactor and the FPL during the compaction process.

Furthermore, the motion behavior of the plate compactor and the interaction between plate compactor and subgrade form the basis for the future development of a work-integrated compaction control of the FPL.

Project related publications in reposiTUm, opens an external URL in a new window.