ABSTRACT
Railway tracks deteriorate over time due to dynamic train loads, requiring frequent and costly maintenance. This paper presents laboratory and field evaluations of a Recycled Rub-ber Energy Absorbing Grid (REAG), developed from used conveyor belts from the mining indus-try, to improve ballasted track performance. The REAGs, featuring square apertures cut with waterjet technology, were tested under simulated cyclic train loads using the large-scale Process Simulation Testing Apparatus (PSTA) at the University of Technology Sydney. Results show that REAGs enhance energy absorption and particle interlocking, significantly reducing settlement, lateral displacement, and ballast degradation. Compared to traditional polymer geogrids and rub-ber under ballast mats (UBMs), REAGs provided superior performance. For field validation, a fully instrumented track section was constructed at Chullora, NSW, Australia. Field monitoring confirmed that REAG installation beneath the ballast layer reduced vertical stresses within the track substructure by up to 27%, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable and effective solution for enhancing the durability of ballasted railway tracks.
