Rail

A train’s journey carrying passengers, goods or raw materials, should always be seamless and reliable. The tracks on which trains run need to remain well supported to carry the enormous dynamic point loads created by the rapidly moving wheels. Ground stabilisation, plays a key role in supporting the tracks and surrounding ground which makes it a critical part of rail reliability in all conditions.

There are ways to ensure the stability of unstable ground, slopes, embankments, and even heritage listed rail lines. We’ve developed a range of PUR injection grouts which consolidates weak ground and loose rocks. We’ve also introduced innovative ground anchors and soil nails which have a 100-year design life, high tensile and shear strengths and which are ¼ weight of steel, making them easy to secure, further reducing expenses and install times.

In electrified rail systems, the metal tracks are typically used to return current from the trains back through the system. Insulation of the tracks from the ground is an important aspect of this system as metal components such as steel rock bolts run perpendicular to the rail, into the ground, providing ‘stray current’ leakage. The stray currents represent serious durability problems for any electrified rail transit system.

These stray currents create and accelerate the electrolytic corrosion of metallic structures located within the proximity of the transit system. This causes metal pipes, cables and earthing grids that are laid in the ground near the tracks have a much shorter use life.

In 2011, Bluey introduced BluGeo GRP60, a glass-fibre reinforced polymer bar which is non-conductive and has an extremely high load carrying capacity. At ¼ the weight of steel, the bars offer designers and specifiers an innovative solution to providing non-conductive ground anchoring and soil nailing. The use of GRP ground anchors adds to the durability of the entire network and all metal elements within proximity.

Rail bridges, corridors and pavements are just a few areas where fast setting, high strength concrete is required.

Our BluCem FSC has been designed as a cementitious binder that can be mixed with coarse and fine aggregates to produce a rapid-set concrete. BluCem FSC is suitable for batching near to site, in transit mixers or volumetric based continuous mixers.

The use of BluCem FSC allows these time-critical assets to return to service in hours, rather than weeks or months. This results in fewer shutdowns and a reduction in other associated costs.

In rail applications where asset shutdowns must be minimised, BluCem HE80, our high early strength grout has been utilised on projects to prevent network disruption.

The specialised engineered cement system allows the grout to remain fluid during placement and ensures a high strength and durable, long term solution for applications such as platforms, station upgrades and electrical pole installation.

Electrical underbore grouting is used to aid in the dissipation of heat from high voltage electrical conduits. This not only increases the cable’s insulation but also allows for additional voltage loads to be placed on cables, creating superior cable ratings and a reduction in long term costs.

BluCem LH60 has a thermal resistivity (TR) 0.69km-w and low exothermic heat to avoid heat damage to the conduits during curing. BluCem LH60 can also be supplied in 1000kg bulk bags which allow for bulk mixing in concrete agitator trucks for improved productivity on site.

Most of the rail tunnels across the Globe were constructed in the 20th century and are lined with stone or brick. These materials can often be difficult to remediate so we aim to use products and machinery which causes the least amount of movement and excavation of these areas.

This includes our BluGeo GRP ground anchors, which cause minimal damage, yet provide a +100 year design life solution to the rail network. As GRP is made from a glass fibre polymer, it doesn’t require double corrosion protection, meaning >50% reduction in excavation and grouting. As GRP bar is also 25% the weight of steel, less machinery is often needed on sites, which further reduces the risk of damage to rail tunnels. For electrified rail systems, GRP has the added benefit of not increasing stray current losses.