Category : Infrastructure

Investigation of Relationship between Train Speed and Bolted Rail Joint Fatigue Life Using Finite Element Analysis

Reducing the allowable operating speed or placing temporary speed restrictions are common practices to 2 prevent further damage to the track when defects are detected related to certain track components. However, the speeds chosen for restricted operation are typically based on past experience without considering the magnitude of the impact load around the rail joints.…

Laboratory Characterization of Structural Capacity of North American Heavy Haul Concrete Crossties

Over the past few decades, the use of concrete crossties in North America has increased as a high-performance alternative to timber crossties, especially in heavy-haul freight and higher speed rail corridors. To accommodate heavier axle-loads and prevent center cracking, railroads and suppliers have consistently increased the bending moment thresholds that a crosstie must withstand, leading…

Lateral Load Performance of Concrete Sleeper Fastening Systems Under Non-ideal Conditions

The fastening system is an essential component of the track superstructure that facilitates load transfer from the rail to the sleeper while holding the rail in place. Previous research has focused on investigating the performance of different fastening systems under laboratory and field loading environments when the fastening systems are properly installed. However, with the…

Development of a New Load-deflection Method for Characterization of North American Heavy Haul Concrete Sleepers

Over the past few decades, the use of concrete sleepers in North America has increased as a high-performance alternative to timber sleepers, especially in heavy-haul freight corridors. In order to accommodate heavier axle-loads and prevent center cracking, railroads and suppliers have consistently increased the center bending moment threshold that a sleeper must withstand, leading to…

Quantification of Rail Displacements Under Light Rail Transit Field Loading Conditions

While timber crossties are widely used in North America, the popularity of concrete crossties has increased significantly in recent years. Concrete crossties require the use of premium elastic fastening systems to have a proper and stable system. The primary role of fastening system is to attach the rail to its support preserving track geometry. For…