Wave Amplitude Attenuation and Wear Prevention Methods for Non-Wood-Timber Railroad Ties

Abstract

Non-wood-timber (NWT) railroad ties such as concrete remove cushion and pressure wave attenuation provided by wood timber railroad ties. I provide methods to reintroduce cushion and wave attenuation by means of adding an elastomeric sole. To further increase wave attenuation a layer of ground automobile tire is placed between the hardpan and ballast. Also, reclaimed asphalt is an inexpensive means to create hardpan that reduces railroad tie pumping.

1 . Reclaimed asphalt  14  is an inexpensive artificial hardpan that reduces tie pumping, reduces debris in ballast  2 , and extends rail life and when used in combination with Geotextile  15  placed under reclaimed asphalt hardpan further stabilizes soft areas by distributing forces over larger areas. It reduces tie pumping, and extends rail life and the life of rolling stock rigid components. 
     
     
         2 . Automobile tire shreds or tire chips  17  attenuate wave amplitudes, extend rail life, and extend the life of rolling stock rigid components. 
     
     
         3 . Elastomeric sole with belting material  13 , 19 , 20  protects NWT ties  6  from ballast  2 , 4  erosion, maintains the tie's original profile, attenuates wave amplitudes and frequencies, grips ballast  2 , 4 , prevents sliding, maintains rail system congruency in three dimensions, reduces pumping, and extends both the life of the rail and rolling stock's rigid components. 
     
     
         4 . “Wedge” railroad tie  18 , 20  maintains tamped ballast  4  locked tight in place, promotes grip between elastomeric sole  19 , 20  and ballast  2 , 4 , reduces NWT tie  6  erosion, prevents sliding, maintains rail system congruency in three dimensions, reduces pumping, and extends rail life and the life of rolling stock rigid components.