ECO_RORAIL-Subprodutos industriais para estradas e ferrovias eco-eficientes

The ECO_RORAIL project aims to advance the development of climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable transport infrastructures by focusing on the utilisation of mixtures of steel slags with (or without) rubber from end-of-life tyres in the granular support layers. On railway tracks, these include ballast, sub-ballast, and capping layers, while on road pavements, it involves base course and sub-base layers. The primary objectives of the project are (i) to gain an in-depth understanding of the long-term performance of these materials, (ii) to optimise mixtures and layer design, and (iii) to evaluate their ability to mitigate vibrations in railway tracks. To achieve these objectives, the project will pursue specific targets to extend the knowledge beyond the current state of the art, including: 1. Developing slag-rubber mixtures that ensure optimal environmental and mechanical performance compared to conventional natural granular materials; 2. Analysing the behaviour of the mixtures and assessing the impact of particle morphology on their response making use of advanced scanning and image processing procedures for 3D reconstruction of particles and mixtures; 3. Evaluating the resilient and long-term behaviour of the mixtures under cyclic loading in laboratory and real-scale conditions, incorporating innovative testing methodologies and instrumentation to capture nuanced performance characteristics and enhance predictive modelling capabilities, applying machine learning algorithms to the large amount of experimental data expected to be collected; 4. Comparing the structural response of the slag-rubber mixtures in rail and road applications in terms of its transient and plastic behaviour, utilising cutting-edge simulation techniques, and cross-disciplinary approaches to generate comprehensive insights into material performance under varied loading conditions and environmental factors; 5. Evaluating the potential reduction of ground-borne vibrations in railway tracks with the introduction of the slag-rubber mixture in the track support layers, developing advanced 3D FEM models to perform numerical simulations calibrated from experimental data; 6. Quantifying the environmental impact of alternative materials for transportation infrastructures using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and comparing with natural aggregates, leveraging interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art data analysis techniques to provide comprehensive and accurate sustainability assessments across the entire lifecycle; 7. Providing design guidelines with technical specifications and design criteria for the acceptance of these alternative materials, synthesising multidisciplinary knowledge and best practices to establish innovative frameworks for the effective integration of sustainable materials into infrastructure projects; 8. Disseminating results to stakeholders and engaging in relevant international activities to create a sustainable and long-term project impact, employing advanced communication strategies and collaboration frameworks to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster national and global partnerships in advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure solutions. The sustainability assessment of the proposed mixtures in terms of cost, environmental impact, and technical performance is the major output of the project that will support knowledge-based decisions of transport infrastructure stakeholders.