Abstract:
Ballasted rail tracks have become an essential part of transportation infrastructure worldwide. Modernization of railways should cater for higher train speeds, greater traffic densities and increased axle loads for sustainable productivity. However, this in turn has posed serious geotechnical problems. Crucial issues facing railways include aggravated degradation of track by repeated (cyclic) train loads at high speeds and excessive impact forces caused by wheel-rail deficiencies, insufficient confinement of track leading to instability, excessive settlements of soft soils foundations especially along coastal terrains, and the impediments to free-draining caused by intrusion of coal and clay fines that pollute the ballast. The Centre for Geomechanics and Railway Engineering (CGRE) of the University of Wollongong has been instrumental in addressing these issues through extensive interaction with rail industry. In this research seminar, the salient aspects of research outcomes generated over the past 15 years at CGRE and their successful adoption in rail industry will be presented.
About the speaker:
Dr. Buddhima Indraratna is a Professor of Civil Engineering, and a Research Director at University of Wollongong, Australia. He is also the Foundation Director of the Center for Geomechanics and Railway Engineering based at University of Wollongong since 2000, and a Program Leader of Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence in Geotechnical Science and Engineering since 2011.
More details are available at this link: http://works.bepress.com/bindraratna/
His CV is available at this link.
Contact: Kindly confirm your participation by Wednesday 26 August to: [email protected]
Date: 28 August 2015 (Friday)
Time: 9.45 – 12.00 hrs
Venue: Room 108, AIT Conference Center
