2007-06-17 18:49:44 · 8 answers · asked by khan sb. 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The ballast rock is not to distribute the weight, that function is done by the ties. Rails are very slender and can deform by bending. The ballast rock provides the only resistance to lateral motion of the ties. Without the ballast, the rails would start to wander and soon move off the original grade.
2007-06-18 03:07:57 · answer #1 · answered by lare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The proper term for this kind of bedding is ballast, both for drainage and stability although the maintenance of these is becoming increasingly more expensive thus, as time and expense permit, the rail systems are being laid over concrete bedding.
An excellent resource which explains rail technology from beginning to end is found at:
http://www.answers.com/topic/rail-tracks
2007-06-18 02:06:05 · answer #2 · answered by pjallittle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stone chips along railtrack known as ballast serves a few purpose
1. it is cheap soil improvement for wheel load distribution thus prevent sinking in he ground
2. Absorbs vibration / noise a great extent by damping effect and acts like a dashpot /spring thus reduce jerk to passengers .
3. disposes rainwater off track to side by drain running along the track , at lower level. and rail bottoms dry thus prevent corrosion /errosion .
During periodic track inspection and maintenance , dressing is done to keep solidarity of the ballast and to keep rail level / slope . Superelevation at bends are adjusted and maintained and is maintained
2007-06-18 03:39:05 · answer #3 · answered by Swapan G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, senior braghunath is right.
Those rocks called ballast. We can spread the point of force of the rail onto a wider soil area with that, but for this purpose you must use a sharp edge rocks (not rounded rocks).
Try to compare when you push a cylinder to sands and to rocks. Sands cannot transmit force to its surroundings, but rocks can do it. Be careful when you drive in sands.
2007-06-18 02:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by amrobyono 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to distribute the weight of the train so that the rails do not sink into the ground
2007-06-18 01:52:32 · answer #5 · answered by braghunath 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To deter erosion of the soil
which would desabilize the tracks very rapidly !!
2007-06-18 01:59:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they allow for drainage and they also keep the tracks from moving
2007-06-18 01:52:05 · answer #7 · answered by s b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MUFFLE THE NOISE
[SOrry about the caps lock]
2007-06-18 01:55:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋