Speakers and Topics: Heavy Haul Seminars Sessions Abstract

Topic: Concrete Crossties and Fastening Systems – Quantifying Loads and Developing Mechanistic Design Practices

Presenter: J. Riley Edwards, Marcus S. Dersch

Company: University of Illinois

Abstract:

A sustained increase in heavy axle loads and cumulative freight tonnages, as well as increased interest in international high speed passenger rail development, is placing an increasing demand on railway infrastructure. One of the most critical areas of the infrastructure in need of further research is the concrete sleeper and elastic fastening system used in high speed passenger, heavy haul, and shared infrastructure applications. This presentation will provide an overview of current research and testing programs aimed at decreasing the life cycle costs of the concrete crosstie and fastening system. Specifically, the presentation will cover current research thrusts in the domain of concrete crossties and fastening systems, laboratory and field testing, analytical modeling, and an approach for mechanistic (or performance-based) crosstie and fastening system design. Currently, there is a need to improve our understanding of the loading demands on each component within the crosstie and fastening system. In order to quantify loading conditions, we will discuss the use of laboratory and field experimental data, as well as results from a complete crosstie and fastening system Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model. Ultimately, this improved understanding of loading will provide a basis for a mechanistic design process, contributing to improved recommended practices for concrete sleeper and fastening system design.