Comparing lateral resistance to different types of sleeper in ballasted railway tracks

Abstract

Identifying the contribution of each part of the railway to total lateral resistance is considered the most important issue in choosing type of sleeper for providing lateral stability of ballasted railway track. On the other hand, identifying the percentage of effect of each part can help to present new methods for increasing lateral resistance of ballasted railway track. Methodology of this study was based on experimental work in the laboratory. In this paper, the contribution of each part of the sleeper comprised of base, crib and shoulder was determined in the total lateral resistance by STPT tests. In all of the measurements, thegreatest value of lateral resistance was related to the area under the sleeper (base zone) and its corresponding valuesin concrete, steel and wood sleepers were62%, 56% and 51%, respectively. The contributionsof shoulder and crib area to the lateral resistance were28% and 9% for concrete sleeper, 27% and 22% for wooden sleeper and 18% and 26% for steel sleeper, respectively.