Evaluation of the Longitudinal Restraint, Uplift Resistance, and Long-term Performance of High Density Polyethylene Crosstie Rail Support System using Static and Cyclic Testing

The University of Illinois at Chicago conducted a series of studies to assess the feasibility of implementing High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) crossties in both conventional and high-speed rail applications. This report presents an experimental investigation aiming to understand and assess the performance of the full rail support system, i.e. HDPE crosstie with the rail section and the fastening system installed. The objectives of this report were to: (1) Understand the behavior of the full system and the interactions between the rail, the different fastening components, and the HDPE crosstie; (2) Evaluate the performance of the rail support system when subjected to longitudinal loading; (3) Investigate the uplift behavior of the system and the contributions of each component of the fastening assembly to the uplift resistance; (4) Assess the long-term performance of the rail support system; and (5) Identify any weak points in the system and recommend possible improvements/modifications.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.nurailcenter.org/research/final_reports/UIC/NURail2012-UIC-R02-Combined_reduced1.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. This final report for NURail project NURail2012-UIC-R02 consists of six distinct documents: (1) Flexural Behavior of High Density Polyethylene Railroad Crossties; (2) Temperature Effect on the Performance of Glass Fiber Reinforced High Density Polyethylene Composite Railroad Crossties; (3) Effect of Pre-drilling, Loading Rate and Temperature Variation on the Behavior of Railroad Spikes used for High Density Polyethylene Crossties; (4) Evaluation of the Longitudinal Restraint, Uplift Resistance, and Long-term Performance of High Density Polyethylene Crosstie Rail Support System using Static and Cyclic Testing; (5) Accelerated Bridge Construction for Railroad Elevated Structures; and (6) Structural Adhesive Behavior-Experimental and Computational Study.
• Corporate Authors:

  National University Rail Center (NURail)

  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 205 N. Mathews Avenue
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Issa, Mohsen A
  • Lotfy, Ibrahim
  • Farhat, Maen
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 36p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Composite materials; Evaluation and assessment; Load tests; Longitudinal strength; Performance; Plastics; Rail fasteners; Railroad ties; Railroad tracks; Recommendations
• Subject Areas: Materials; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01599175
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NURail2012-UIC-R02-D
• Contract Numbers: DTRT12-G-UTC18
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 20 2016 3:47PM