Abstract

The objective of this study is to develop a physical model of a prestressed reinforced concrete railway sleeper, to construct a corresponding finite-element model, and to compare the experimental and numerical results. During operation, many of them sustain damage due to cracks. The article deals with the crack resistance of sleepers, specifically the impact of anchoring on reinforcement. Physical models of concrete sleepers were designed and fabricated; they included specimens with non-anchored or anchored reinforcement. Their finite-element models were constructed, and both computational and full-scale experiments were carried out; they also included their loading to failure. It is found that the anchoring of reinforcement does not improve the crack resistance or strength of the models, and even leads to a slight reduction in their properties. It has therefore been found that the anchoring of reinforcement does not improve the resistance of sleepers up to the formation of transverse cracks in the under-rail and mid-section areas; however, it can be considered as a technological measure, as well as a measure for protecting the ends of rebars from contact with the external environment to prevent leakage currents from flowing through them. The results obtained make it possible to design sleepers with anchored reinforcement to achieve the required crack resistance.

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