EFFECTS OF SCALE FACTOR ON DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF RAILROAD BALLAST IN SHAKING TABLE TESTS

Abstract

This study presents an experimental study to elucidate the dynamic response of railroad ballast subjected to seismic loads. A series of shaking table tests for ballast and gravel was performed. In these tests, a one-third scale model of railroad ballast as well as a full scale model was used. Based on test results, the seismic stability and ductility beyond failure of railroad ballast are quantitatively evaluated. Moreover, effects of the scale factor between prototypes and the models on the dynamic response of granular materials are discussed. This study proposes an evaluation method of seismic performance of railroad ballast by small scale model tests.