SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 26 February 2018
STP160520170030

Large-Scale Laboratory Testing of the Lateral Resistance of a Timber Tie

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We present a large-scale laboratory test for quantifying the lateral resistance of a timber tie in ballast for the expected range of in-service train loads in North American railway track. The test uses three configurations to evaluate the contribution of the tie-ballast base friction, crib (side) friction, and shoulder (end) resistance, respectively, to overall tie-lateral resistance. The tests use a 1.52-m (60 in.) long, 1.27-m (50 in.) wide, 0.51-m (20 in.) high, and 0.005-m (0.19 in.) thick reinforced steel box, or ballast box, filled with 0.45 m (18 in.) of base ballast. Crib and shoulder ballast is placed as required. For each test, a single timber tie is placed on the ballast and laterally pushed up to 40 mm (1.5 in.) at a loading rate of 0.05 mm/s (0.002 in./s) while vertical and horizontal loads and displacements are recorded. The test is then repeated at several vertical loads, ranging from 5 kN (i.e., the estimated weight of track superstructure) to 160 kN (i.e., the maximum potential in-service ballast load transferred to a single timber tie). The test results are used to determine the peak-lateral resistance per tie for each test and the relationship between lateral load and normal load for each test configuration. This paper details the estimation of the maximum potential in-service ballast load transferred to a single tie, the ballast box design, the test configurations, and the equipment characteristics. This paper also outlines the testing methodology and provides an example application on a ballast material, McAbee ballast, used by the Canadian National Railway Company in Western Canada.

Author Information

Mulhall, Courtney
Canadian Rail Research Laboratory, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Balideh, Saleh
Canadian Rail Research Laboratory, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Macciotta, Renato
Canadian Rail Research Laboratory, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Hendry, Michael
Canadian Rail Research Laboratory, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Martin, Derek
Canadian Rail Research Laboratory, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Edwards, Tom
Canadian National Railway, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
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Details
Developed by Committee: D18
Pages: 216–236
DOI: 10.1520/STP160520170030
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7656-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7655-3