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This review aims to assess the mechanical performance and environmental implications of low-carbon solid waste materials in railway sub-ballast layers.

April 13, 2026Railway SciencesOpen Access

Low-carbon solid waste materials for railway sub-ballast layers: a review of mechanical performance, sustainability and regulatory gaps

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This review aims to assess the mechanical performance and environmental implications of low-carbon solid waste materials in railway sub-ballast layers.
Adopted a PRISMA-based systematic review methodology to analyze studies from 2000 to 2025.
Identified various materials including mining residues, steel slags, and recycled concrete aggregates.
Conducted an international regulatory analysis of sub-ballast specifications across multiple regions.
Low-carbon materials show comparable or superior mechanical performance to conventional sub-ballast.
Notable improvements in stiffness retention and resistance to permanent deformation were observed.
Significant reductions in embodied carbon and natural aggregate consumption were recorded with the use of these materials.
Existing railway standards do not adequately support the use of cyclic performance criteria or carbon metrics.

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Implication

This review assesses mechanical performance and environmental benefits of low-carbon materials in railway infrastructure, highlighting regulatory challenges.

Cite This Study

Santos et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dc88b93afacbeac03ea832 https://doi.org/10.1108/rs-02-2026-0012

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Implication

This review assesses mechanical performance and environmental benefits of low-carbon materials in railway infrastructure, highlighting regulatory challenges.

Low-carbon solid waste materials for railway sub-ballast layers: a review of mechanical performance, sustainability and regulatory gaps

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Low-carbon solid waste materials for railway sub-ballast layers: a review of mechanical performance, sustainability and regulatory gaps

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study