UW Engineers Look To Stop Frac Sand From Damaging Rail Lines

Engineers at University of Wisconsin-Madison who say frac sand leaking from train cars is harming rail lines in Wisconsin are studying a new, cost-effective fix.

Rail lines rest on a pile of large rocks called ballast, which transfer weight and dissipate water. But when fine particles like frac sand spill into the ballast, water doesn’t drain and tracks are likely to deform.

Three engineers from the UW-Madison’s College of Engineering are on the case. Professor Dante Fratta said they’re looking into injecting polyurethane into problem areas to shore up the ballast.

“You don’t have to go and remove all the old ballast and put new ballast in. You can just inject it and then you don’t have to go and fix the same area time after time after time again,” said Fratta.

Fratta said the polyurethane fix could be a cost effective alternative to digging out and replacing old ballast that would have broad implications for U.S. rail.