Laboratory evaluation of mechanical behavior of inert steel slag ballast for heavy haul rail track

What is it about?

This paper presents a comparison between aggregates of steel slag and granite by means of monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests carried out on scaled down ballast specimens. The monotonic triaxial tests were conducted at three different confining pressures to failure and to critical state. The long-term cyclic tests (at least 106 cycles) were conducted in two stress paths compatible with heavy haul loadings.

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Why is it important?

The results showed that the steel slag aggregate has higher values of strength parameters compared to the granite aggregate and better long-term deformability behavior, expressed by lower degradation and particle breakage and a faster tendency for stabilization the permanent deformation.