Method and device for compaction of a track ballast bed

A method for compaction of a track ballast bed, the method comprising the following steps:

• actuating two oppositely positioned tamping tools of a tamping unit with vibrations, lowering the tamping tools into the track ballast bed during a tamping operation and moving the tamping tools towards one another with a squeezing motion;
• using sensors disposed at the tamping unit to record a progression of a force acting upon at least one of the tamping tools over a path covered by the tamping tool during a vibration cycle;
• deriving at least one characteristic value from the recorded progression;
• and
• carrying out an evaluation of at least one of the tamping operation or a quality of the track ballast bed by using the at least one characteristic value.

A device for compaction of a track ballast bed, the device comprising:

• a tamping unit including two oppositely positioned tamping tools covering a path;
• a squeezing drive;
• a vibration drive;
• pivot arms each coupling a respective one of said tamping tools to said squeezing drive and said vibration drive;
• sensors disposed at least at one of said pivot arms or said tamping tool associated with said one of said pivot arms for recording a progression of a force acting on said tamping tools over said path covered by said tamping tools;
• and
• an evaluation device receiving measuring signals from said sensors, said evaluation device being configured for determining a characteristic value derived from the progression.