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MARCH 2015 Research, Planning & Coordination Department 2

SLAB TRACK

PROPERTIES OF SLAB TRACK

SLAB TRACK

MARCH 2015 Research, Planning & Coordination Department 3

COMPARISON BETWEEN TRACKS AND S.T.

SLAB TRACK PROPERTIES OF SLAB TRACK

MARCH 2015 Research, Planning & Coordination Department 4

• Properties of slab track

• On slab tracks, high bed durability concrete or asphalt is used instead of load spreader ballast. These materials have very little plastic deformation degree. Requested elasticity is provided by other elastic materials which positioned below rails or sleepers. Because asphalt or concrete elasticity is low compared to ballast.

• Ground subsidence must be prevented if slab track is to be used. It’s very important factor in slab tracks.

• The reason for slab track is used in tunnels is the low height of tunnels.

• Slab track on soil needs special attention, the reason for this is the possible ground subsidence on soil.

SLAB TRACK PROPERTIES OF SLAB TRACK

MARCH 2015 Research, Planning & Coordination Department 5

SLAB TRACK COMPARISON BETWEEN TRACKS WITH BALLAST AND S.T.

MARCH 2015 Research, Planning & Coordination Department 6

• Comparison between tracks with ballast and slab tracks

• Track’s lay-out durability is an important criteria for technical

comparison. From this angle slab track has advantages against tracks

with ballast. One of the disadvantages of slab tracks is high

propagation of sound and air wave. This brings a great economic cost

because of necessary active and passive protection precautions.

• The biggest advantage of slab track compared to tracks with ballast is

very low maintanance cost.

• Slab tracks’ life cycle are 50-60 years, Tracks with ballast are 30-40

years.

SLAB TRACK COMPARISON BETWEEN TRACKS WITH BALLAST AND S.T.

MARCH 2015 Research, Planning & Coordination Department 7

• Some economic differences

• Feasibility of an investment with convenient interest shows us cost

of a slab track with maintanance costs value is %30 more then track

with ballast.

• Slab track’s economic superiority to track with ballast is limited with

high economic cost of maintanance of the track with ballast. But

today maintanance of the tracks with ballast are provided by

mechanical vehicles so it’s costs become lower.

• Slab tracks which build in tunnels is more economic . It’s wrong the

think in normal conditions builing slab track in open area is more

economic then building track with ballast. In open area, on slab

track building process ,expenses that limiting ground subsidence are

2-2.5 times higher than tracks with ballast.