What is ballast?

Ballast refers to a material or substance that is placed in railway tracks, ships or other vehicles to increase their stability, balance and weight. The purpose of ballast is to distribute the weight of the trains or vehicles and to prevent them from toppling over. Ballast is usually made up of heavy aggregate materials, such as crushed stones, gravel, rock, slag, concrete, and sand.

In railway tracks, ballast is placed between the sleepers or ties. It offers support to the sleepers and also reduces the impact of the weight of the trains, which helps to prevent damage to the tracks. Ballast needs to be properly shaped and maintained to maintain a stable and safe railway track. In ships and boats, ballast is used to control the stability and balance of the vessel.

Ballast is often used in construction projects to provide a firm foundation for structures such as buildings and bridges. In this case, the ballast is placed under the building or bridge to prevent it from sinking or shifting over time. Overall, ballast is an essential component in many construction and transportation industries as it helps to increase their stability, balance, and safety.