Evaluation of epoxy asphalt-based concrete substructure for high-speed railway ballastless track

In order to improve the serviceability and service life of high-speed railway ballastless track, the epoxy asphalt-based concrete railway substructure (EAC-S) is proposed. Three epoxy asphalt-based concretes (EACs), containing the conventional epoxy asphalt concrete (CEAC), the rubber powder modified epoxy asphalt concrete (REAC), and the thermoplastic matrix asphalt modified epoxy asphalt concrete (MEAC), were designed at first. Afterwards, the material performance of the EACs was evaluated by a series of laboratory experiments. Finally, a finite element model was developed to investigate the structural performance of EAC-S. Results show that all the three EACs are suitable for the high-speed railway substructure, and the EACs could improve the cracking resistance and deformability of substructure. The designed EAC-S has better capacity in vibration attenuation than the conventional substructure, and could improve the stress and deformation behavior of the subgrade bed. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.