Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 24

Innovative solution for ballast fouling
results when measuring the weight of
retained particles. PVC utilizes the following
equation:
" where V1 is the void volume between
clean ballast particles (>9.5 mm) and V2 is
the total volume of fouling material (<9.5
mm) that fills V1 " (Bruzek et al. 2016).
Finally, Void Contamination Index
(VCI) is a more complex variation of
the PVC. VCI considers the void ratio,
specific gravity and dry mass of both
the fouling material and the clean ballast.
VCI is calculated with the following
equation:
FIGURE 5 Severe ballast fouling at a site in Texas - December 2022.
" where eb is the void ratio of clean ballast,
ef is the void ratio of the fouling material,
Gsb is the specific gravity of clean ballast,
Gsf is the specific gravity of fouling
material, Mb is the dry mass of clean ballast,
and Mf is the dry mass of fouling
material " (Bruzek et al. 2016).
These methods all have advantages
and disadvantages. One key advantage is
that each of these methods quantifies the
level of ballast fouling present, either by
weight or volume. However, the primary
disadvantage is that their applicability in
the field is limited because each method
requires ballast excavation and laboratory
testing.
The requirement of laboratory analyFIGURE
6 No ballast fouling observed at a site in Texas - December 2022.
sis almost always deters rail companies
from attempting to quantify ballast fouling
when observed. Testing would require
the rail line to be taken out of service
for extended periods of time to allow
for ballast to be excavated and analyzed.
According to Steffer, ballast fouling is usually
identified during a visual inspection.
Determining when the section becomes
overly fouled is difficult and poses a
24
Geosynthetics | February March 2023

Geosynthetics February/March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Geosynthetics February/March 2023

Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - Cover1
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - Cover2
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 1
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 2
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 3
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 4
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 5
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 6
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 7
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 8
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 9
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 10
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 11
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 12
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 13
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 14
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 15
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 16
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 17
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 18
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 19
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 20
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 21
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 22
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 23
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 24
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 25
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 26
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 27
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 28
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 29
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 30
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 31
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 32
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 33
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 34
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 35
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 36
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 37
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 38
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 39
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 40
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 41
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 42
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 43
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 44
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - Cover3
Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - Cover4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-december-2022-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-october-november-2022
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https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-february-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-december-2021-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-october-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-august-september-2021
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https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-february-march-2021
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https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/1218GS
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https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0618GS
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