Major project on track
A railway load-weighing system new to the UK has been commissioned at Buxton Lime Industries' Hindlow Quarry, near Buxton, Derbyshire. Supplied by Weighwell Ltd, the system was installed by Trackwork Ltd using high-strength materials from TecRoc Products.
The Sirius weighrail system uses track-mounted sensors to weigh wagons and their loads, transmitting all information to a central computer or network to provide fully automatic, accurate weighing without the need for a traditional weighbridge.
During construction, the need for rapid-setting anchors and grouts was met by using two TecRoc products. TecGrout E33 epoxy resin for grouting and void filling was used around the steel base plates supporting the rails which are suspended 50mm above a floating concrete slab. The supporting plates are sited at intervals of between 400-600mm, and the rail structure is subject to a maximum axle loading of 12.5 tonnes per wheel at any one point. Rapid-setting TecGrip V was used to anchor the 24mm bolts into 200mm vertical holes in the concrete base.
TecGrout E33 is a three-pack, free-flow epoxy resin mix suitable for grouting crane rails, bridge bearings and base plates. A non-shrink formulation, it can be used for gaps between 10mm and 50mm and has high resistance to chemicals and other aggressive agents. It is rapid setting and offers high compressive and tensile strengths.
TecGrip V is a polyester resin anchor grout used for fixing bolts or rebar into vertical pre-drilled holes. It achieves a high early strength and can be loaded soon after placing, with a typical setting time at 20oC of just 40min.
