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Experimental and parametrical investigation of pre-stressed ultrahigh-performance fiber-reinforced concrete railway sleepers

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Abstract

In this study, ultrahigh-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) used in a type B70 concrete sleeper is investigated experimentally and parametrically. The main parameters investigated are the steel fiber volume fractions (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%). Under European standards, 35 UHPFRC sleepers are subjected to static bending tests at the center and rail seat sections, and the screw on the fastening system is pulled out. The first cracking load, failure load, failure mode, crack propagation, load-deflection curve, load-crack width, and failure load from these tests are measured and compared with those of a control sleeper manufactured using normal concrete C50. The accuracy of the parametric study is verified experimentally. Subsequently, the results of the study are applied to UHPFRC sleepers with different concrete volumes to investigate the effects of the properties of UHPFRC on their performance. Experimental and parametric study results show that the behavior of UHPFRC sleepers improves significantly when the amount of steel fiber in the mix is increased. Sleepers manufactured using UHPFRC with a steel fiber volume fraction of 1% and a concrete volume less than 25% that of standard sleeper B70 can be used under the same loads and requirements, which contributes positively to the cost and surrounding environment.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the National Authority for Tunnels for allowing us to use the Siegwart factory to fabricate our specimens. The authors appreciate the support provided by members of the Housing and Building National Research Center, Egypt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Sayed Ahmed & Mohamed Husain

  2. Track Work Department, National Authority for Tunnels, Cairo, 11522, Egypt

    Hossam Atef

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  1. Sayed Ahmed
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  2. Hossam Atef
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  3. Mohamed Husain
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Correspondence to Hossam Atef.

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Ahmed, S., Atef, H. & Husain, M. Experimental and parametrical investigation of pre-stressed ultrahigh-performance fiber-reinforced concrete railway sleepers. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng. 17, 411–428 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-023-0928-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-023-0928-3

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