Performance studies on two types of prestressed concrete railway sleepers using finite element model

Abstract

Prestressed concrete sleepers [PCS] are widely used in ballasted railway tracks across the world. Sleepers distribute the load coming from the rails to the ballast. PCS have advantages like high durability, stability, and strength compared to other types of sleepers. Concrete sleepers in their life span may undergo utmost loading conditions due to high-speed rails, high-magnitude wheel loads, and rail irregularities. Cracks in sleepers may occur at the rail seat region and mid-span region because of the high positive bending moment and high negative bending moment, respectively. PCS may satisfy the excepted performance standards during short-term serviceability, but long-term durability and premature failures are still an issue. Hence, selecting a suitable sleeper that performs better during harsh loading conditions becomes crucial. In the present study, two kinds of railway sleepers, namely, Indian sleeper (RT2496/60 kg) and Chinese type III prestressed concrete sleeper [CT III PCS], are considered to assess the performance under harsh loading conditions which arise due to modern high-speed or semi-high-speed rails on ballasted tracks. The finite element models of two kinds of sleepers were done using ANSYS, and the performance of the sleepers was assessed. The numerical results show that the CT III PCS performed slightly better than the Indian sleeper that has been studied in the present investigation.