1. www.superitn.eu ESR7 : Optimisation of trackbed design and maintenance Giacomo D’Angelo Supervisors: Nick Thom, Davide Lo Presti, Glen McDowel

2. Giacomo D’Angelo Cefalu’ (PA), Italy Languages: - Italian - English - French (basic) - Spanish (basic) Background Bachelor and Master degrees in Civil Engineering (Structure) at University of Palermo II Level Master degree in Railway Infrastructure and System Engineering at University of Rome “La Sapienza” PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham

3. Goal: develop a more sustainable trackbed Objectives: Identification of ballast testing methods that reflect field performance Evaluation of the effectiveness of maintenance operations such as tamping and stoneblowing and their management In situ stabilisation of degraded ballast

4. Research outline Background of the problem Ballast fouling: tamping deteriorates ballast Project objective Propose a best practise for maintenance including ballast recycling Proposed solutions: Ballast stabilisation Preliminary LCC Assess the cost effectiveness of the technology Research Plan

5. Research plan 2 type of Ballast 2 type of Bituminous Emulsion Permeability Fresh ballast Fouled ballast (5% and 20%) Stabilised ballast Ballast Box test Maintenance operation comparison Permanent deformation: settlement Resilient modulus PUMA test Fouled and stabilised ballast comparison Permanent deformation Resilient modulus Triaxial test Fouled and stabilised ballast Permanent deformation Resistance to failure Lab. tests Materials Field trials Compare the technology with the current practise Sustainability assessment of the proposed best practise for maintenance

6. Initial laboratory program: Ballast Box Laboratory simulation of field loading conditions and maintenance operations Fresh Ballast o Cliff hill o Bardon hill Moderately Fouled ballast o Bardon hill Highly Fouled ballast o Bardon hill Stabilised Fouled ballast o Bardon hill For each materialTraffic loadingMaintenance operations 2 Series 5 tamps + 1 stoneblow 6 stoneblows 2:3 Material tested

7. Initial laboratory program: Ballast Box Laboratory simulation of field loading conditions and maintenance operations Conclusions Ballast settlement and deformation rate was lower after stoneblowing Stoneblowing effectiveness improved over the time Similar trend obtained for all the material and conditions The test was repeatable Ballast box will be used to assess the new technology performance

8. Current work: PUMA test Small scale Variable lateral confinement Stabilised material Permanent deformation Resilient properties

9. Project partners Up-scaling: Railway test facility / In situ trials

10. Local Training: NTEC and other courses  NTEC, University of Nottingham: o Laboratory security o MAND induction o Hydraulics induction o Falling Weight Deflectometer o Kango Hammer induction o “Innovative materials to achieve sustainable pavement” by Filippo Giustazzi o High Speed Two by Andrew McNaughton o NTEC presentations  Other courses: o Establishing a digital presence for your research o Latex o ANSYS-ICEM Workshop o Introduction to sustainability o How green is that product? An introduction to Life Cycle Environmental Assessment

11. Network Training: SUP&R ITN weeks  September 2014 Nottingham o Introduction to Pavements and Railways o Sustainability and Life cycle assessment o Career in industry o Management tools o Planning your research  January 2015 Nottingham o Science Outreach Programme o Careers and employability o Getting your research published o Establishing your digital profile  March 2015 Dublin o Progress of the research projects. o Transport policy applications for Rail projects o 3D printing DEMO o Technical lectures o Tour of CTC in Connolly station and Irish Rail training driving simulator  June 2015 Delft o Introduction to the Finite Element method and service life analysis o CAPA-3D software o Visco-elasticity o DSR specimen preparation and testing

12. Dissemination and outreach activities  Conferences o Ballast and Beyond, London 2015 o Railway Engineering 2015, Edinburgh  Papers o “Laboratory simulation of field loading condition and maintenance operations“ Presented on: “The 13th International Conference & Exhibition on Railway Engineering. 30 th June -1 st July2015, Edinburgh, UK.  Outreach activities o Mansfield science day o Mayfest, University of Nottingham: outreach activity for children.

13. Digital presence www.facebook.com/superitn?fref=ts esr7.superitn.eu @giakijames #sustainablepavement #sustainablerailways

14. Contacts Contacts: Giacomo D’Angelo Giacomo.d’angelo@nottingham.ac.uk giacomodangelo@live.it Nick Thom Nicholas.thom@nottingham.ac.uk Davide Lo Presti Davide.lopresti@nottingham.ac.uk

15. Acknowledgements The research presented in this presentation was carried out as part of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) action, FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 607524.