Abstract
Wood offers natural advantages tremendously such as their elasticity, flexibility and resistance against compression as well as force impact. Therefore, wood material is astonishingly better material than concrete for railway sleepers. In spite of wood material’s advantages, the material is susceptible to attack by organisms. This paper observes the service life of wood sleepers in Java, Indonesia. Wood sleepers were observed visually from the ground railway system, Banten Province includes wood species identification macroscopically and organism’s attack. Results reveal that natural wood resistance of the sleepers are relatively high, then sleepers were predicted to be last long. Sleepers wood species are teak (Tectona grandis), balau (Hopea sp.), merbau (Intsia bijuga), and ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri). Sleepers were also found deteriorated by fungus during five months instalment. Decaying fungi observed are Dacryopinax sp., D. spathularia, Lentinus sp., Panus sp., Pycnoporus sp., P. sanguineus, Polyporus spp., Schizophyllum commune, and Trametes sp.
Highlights
Wood material is used for railway sleepers, as it offers remarkably natural advantages such as flexibility, resilience, elasticity and its resistance against compression as well as impact, which are better than those of the concrete counterparts
Wood species with high class durability is recommended for railway sleepers, durable wood is hardly found in the forest
Based on Indonesia National Standard No 0197:2013 (BSN 2013), the wood material for railway sleepers should belong to class II, or should be previously preserved or treated
Summary
Wood material is used for railway sleepers, as it offers remarkably natural advantages such as flexibility, resilience, elasticity and its resistance against compression as well as impact, which are better than those of the concrete counterparts. Wood for railway sleepers are prepared and shaped in accordance with the desired necessities, e.g. sizes, dimensions, patterns, etc (FORPRIDECOM 1971). As of this occasion there are still no artificial material with their capability able to compete with the versatility of natural properties of woods for railway sleepers. Concrete and steel are used for sleepers due to the lack of high durability wood supply (Djarwanto et al 2007). For use as railway sleepers, wood should comply with the desired quality requirements and other related aspects, such as strength properties, spike-holding power, durability, expended costs, and continual availability (FORPRIDECOM 1974)
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