Failure prediction of impact behaviour of self-compacted rubcrete sleepers

Railway sleepers are used for transferring loads from train wheels to the ballast. Damage to railway sleepers affects the integrity of the rail network. Prestressed concrete sleepers often get damaged during derailments. At the time of the derailment, a high-magnitude impact load acts for a short duration of time. Damage caused during derailment can be reduced by improving the energy absorption capacity of sleepers. The energy absorption capacity of sleepers can be enhanced by the use of rubber concrete (rubcrete). This paper presents the development of a failure prediction model using finite element analysis to simulate the impact behaviour of self-compacted rubcrete sleepers. This was validated by conducting limited experimental studies and was found to be in good agreement.