DEVELOPMENT OF ELASTOMER COMPOSITIONS BASED ON LOCAL RAW MATERIALS FOR RAILWAY RAIL PADS AND EVALUATION OF THEIR DYNAMIC PROPERTIES

Annotatsiya

This article examines the development of new elastomer compositions based on locally sourced raw materials
for railway rail pads and evaluates their dynamic properties. In railway transport, dynamic loads and vibrations generated
by train movement accelerate the deterioration of track components, including rails, sleepers, ballast layers, and fastening
systems, thereby increasing operating and maintenance costs. Therefore, the development of elastomeric materials
capable of effectively damping vibrations and reducing impact loads is an important scientific and practical objective. In
this study, modified red clay derived from local mineral resources was incorporated into an elastomer matrix as a filler, and
its influence on the physical, mechanical, and dynamic properties of the resulting compositions was investigated. Hardness,
elasticity, compression set, dynamic stiffness, and vibration absorption coefficient were determined under laboratory
conditions. The results demonstrated that elastomer compositions containing modified red clay increased the vibration
absorption coefficient by 18–25%, reduced the dynamic loads transmitted from the rails to the ballast layer by 15–20%,
and extended the service life of rail pads by a factor of 1.3–1.5. The findings indicate that the developed elastomer compositions
are promising materials for improving the reliability of railway track structures, reducing vibration effects, and
lowering maintenance costs