Increasing Strength and Reducing Life-cycle Cost of Concrete Tie Rack

Heavy-axle-load (HAL) traffic has significantly increased in North America and this has caused additional stresses on the track. Along with this increase in traffic, track maintenance windows are shrinking. Therefore, track designs that help withstand the increased number of heavy-axle-loads with minimum maintenance are desired. The article is studying track designs to reduce the stress rate of the railroads and the authors believe that stresses can be reduced by improving load transfer patterns of the ties by changing sizes, shapes and spacing of prestressed concrete ties. The ability of ballasted track to hold gauge, alignment and surface is severely tested in high-speed rail (HSR) and HAL operations. The article is evaluating crosstie design configurations that will increase track strength and reduce life cycle costs of track for these applications. For very high-speed service, where track surface and alignment must be maintained to very tight tolerances, nonballasted, continuous rail support track is often used. The initial cost and often the life-cycle costs of this type of track can make it cost prohibitive for many freight operations. Lower cost, less revolutionary crosstie design may provide the benefits of nonballasted track with the economy of ballasted track.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1763403
• Authors:
  • Akhtar, Muhammad N
  • Davis, David D
  • LoPresti, Joseph
• Publication Date: 2012-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 16-20
• Serial:
  • Railway Track and Structures
  • Volume: 108
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0033-9016

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; High speed rail; Life cycle costing; Load transfer; Railroad tracks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crossties; Heavy axle loads
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01376301
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 24 2012 9:11AM