Design 263

8000
Track modulus at 2 MGT
Track modulus (lb/in./in)

6000

Center
4000 IDBT

DFST

2000

0
260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0
Tie/fastener #

Figure 5.46 Track modulus for two types of slab tracks at FAST.

The 25-ft base slab was designed to provide a transition of track modulus
between the ballasted track and the slab track. However, this was found to
be unnecessary because the slab track resiliency was significantly greater
than first thought, that is, the slab track was equally or even more resilient
than the ballasted track at FAST.
Figure 5.46 shows the actual track modulus test results for the two types
of slabs placed next to each other at FAST. Because of the resilient rubber
pads used under the tie plates for the direct fixation slab track (DFST), and
the rubber pads and boots used under the dual block ties for the independent
dual block track (IDBT), the slab tracks as built were very resilient, with
track modulus measured to be 2,100 and 3,000 lb/in./in., respectively, for
two types of slab tracks. In fact, these slab tracks were more resilient than
the adjacent wood tie ballasted track, which had track modulus measured
between 3,000 and 4,000 lb/in./in.
The measured track modulus for the transition built on the base slab
was found to be between 4,600 and 5,000 lb/in./in., which is significantly
higher than the modulus of the slab tracks and also higher than the track
modulus for the ballasted track, completely defeating the purpose of this
“stiffness transition.”
Figure 5.47 shows vertical track deflection test results, obtained using the
Track Loading Vehicle (TLV; see Chapter 8). It shows a continuous verti-
cal track deflection profile along the slab track and the adjacent ballasted
track, obtained under a constant wheel load of 40 kips. As illustrated, the
DFST showed an average deflection of 0.2 in., while the IDBT showed an
average deflection of 0.15  in. The results shown in Figure  5.47 are con-
sistent with the results shown in Figure 5.46, that is, the DFST exhibited
higher deflection or lower track modulus than the IDBT.

© 2016 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC