Fatigue Life Assessment Method for Prestressed Concrete Sleepers

Abstract

Concrete sleepers are one of the most important applications of a railway track system. Researchers have previously studied the impact load characteristics and ultimate load carrying capacity of a prestressed sleeper, but research on the fatigue life of prestressed concrete sleepers is limited. Fatigue damage of a prestressed concrete sleeper is mainly due to the accumulation of defects caused by the repeated load of wheel-rail interaction. Fatigue load, fatigue characteristics, and the existing design methods of prestressed concrete sleeper are summarized in this paper. The commonly used fatigue assessment methods of concrete structures are also evaluated. Based on the results of former research, this article presents a convenient fatigue life assessment method for a prestressed concrete sleeper and contrasts with the test results. The insight information gained can be used to evaluate the service performance and predict the fatigue life of the concrete sleeper, as well providing design flexibility and broadening the design principle. The outcome of this study may also improve the rail track maintenance and inspection criteria, in order to establish an appropriate track condition monitoring network in practice.

Commentary: Fatigue Life Assessment Method for Prestressed Concrete Sleepers

“…Built Environ. 3:68. doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2017.00068 We have closely read with interest the paper published by You et al (2017) about the fatigue life assessment method for prestressed concrete sleepers. This article shows that there is a possibility that the assessment method, which is commonly used to evaluate the fatigue life of the reinforcing bar and prestressed steel for railway concrete structures, is also applicable to the prestressed steel of the concrete sleepers.…”

Composites for Timber-Replacement Bearers in Railway Switches and Crossings

“…However, bearers could have pre-mature failure due to irregularities [47][48][49]. The replacement or modification of the turnout bearers require appropriate structural design principle in assuring that safety margin and structural reliability can be retained without undermining long term sustainability [50][51][52][53]. …”

Stochastic Traffic-Based Fatigue Life Assessment of Rib-to-Deck Welding Joints in Orthotropic Steel Decks with Thickened Edge U-Ribs

“…Generally, fatigue evaluation includes both fatigue strength (resistance) and fatigue action (loading effects) [16][17][18][19]. In OSDs, the vehicle load is the dominated factor inducing the fatigue damage in welding joints [15].…”