Experimental and parametrical investigation of pre-stressed ultrahigh-performance fiber-reinforced concrete railway sleepers
Sayed AHMED1, Hossam ATEF2(), Mohamed HUSAIN1
1. Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt 2. Track Work Department, National Authority for Tunnels, Cairo 11522, Egypt
In this study, ultrahigh-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) used in a type B70 concrete sleeper is investigated experimentally and parametrically. The main parameters investigated are the steel fiber volume fractions (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%). Under European standards, 35 UHPFRC sleepers are subjected to static bending tests at the center and rail seat sections, and the screw on the fastening system is pulled out. The first cracking load, failure load, failure mode, crack propagation, load–deflection curve, load–crack width, and failure load from these tests are measured and compared with those of a control sleeper manufactured using normal concrete C50. The accuracy of the parametric study is verified experimentally. Subsequently, the results of the study are applied to UHPFRC sleepers with different concrete volumes to investigate the effects of the properties of UHPFRC on their performance. Experimental and parametric study results show that the behavior of UHPFRC sleepers improves significantly when the amount of steel fiber in the mix is increased. Sleepers manufactured using UHPFRC with a steel fiber volume fraction of 1% and a concrete volume less than 25% that of standard sleeper B70 can be used under the same loads and requirements, which contributes positively to the cost and surrounding environment.
flexural-shear cracking with bond splitting along the strand
average
51.0
91.61
–
S0
S0-no.4
66.5
109.2
flexural-shear cracking with bond splitting along the strand
S0-no.5
60.2
104.2
concrete crushing with flexural-shear cracking
average
63.4
106.7
–
S0.5
S0.5-no.4
67.8
119.0
concrete crushing with flexural-shear cracking
S0.5-no.5
72.3
117.6
flexural-shear cracking with bond splitting along the strand
average
70.0
118.3
–
S1
S1-no.4
79.0
121.3
failure of flexural tension
S1-no.5
83.5
123.0
failure of flexural tension
average
81.2
122.2
–
S1.5
S1.5-no.4
98.0
129.2
concrete crushing with flexural-shear cracking
S1.5-no.5
101.8
548.7
concrete crushing with flexural-shear cracking
average
99.9
128.2
–
Tab.4
Fig.13
Fig.14
Fig.15
Fig.16
Fig.17
sleeper series
specimen no.
crack inspection at 60 kN load
failure load (kN)
SN
S0-no.6
no cracks
109
S0-no.7
no cracks
116.3
average
–
112.6
S0
S0-no.6
no cracks
106.6
S0-no.7
no cracks
108.7
average
–
107.6
S0.5
S0.5-no.6
no cracks
120
S0.5-no.7
no cracks
118.2
average
–
119.1
S1
S1-no.6
no cracks
132.5
S1-no.7
no cracks
130.7
average
–
131.6
S1.5
S1.5-no.6
no cracks
151
S1.5-no.7
no cracks
155.8
average
–
153.4
Tab.5
Fig.18
Fig.19
index
steps of calculation
compression block area
, ,
pre-stressing wire
,
, ,
,
steel fiber
, , , ,
c
assumed for (C = )
e
tensile block area
compressive forces
the nominal moment,
the design moment,
= 13 kN?m , = 10 kN?m
the condition
Tab.6
Fig.20
Fig.21
sleeper series
rail seat section
center section
safety factor
safety factor
SN
51.5
43.8
13
24.1
1.82
26.3
22.3
10
18.5
1.21
S0
69.4
59.0
–
–
2.45
36.4
31.0
–
–
1.67
S0.5
73.3
62.3
–
–
2.59
39.1
33.2
–
–
1.79
S1
77.3
65.7
–
–
2.73
41.9
35.6
–
–
1.92
S1.5
80.9
68.8
–
–
2.86
44.4
37.7
–
–
2.04
Tab.7
sleeper series
S0
481.5
589.7
325
0.82
1.48
S0.5
553.7
622.7
–
0.89
1.70
S1
604.3
657.0
–
0.92
1.86
S1.5
650.0
687.6
–
0.95
2.00
Tab.8
sleeper series
S0
106.7
88.5
75
1.21
1.42
S0.5
118.3
94.9
–
1.25
1.57
S1
122.2
101.7
–
1.20
1.63
S1.5
128.2
107.8
–
1.19
1.71
Tab.9
sleeper series
rail seat section
center section
safety factor
safety factor
S0
50
42.3
13
24.05
1.77
25.0
21.2
10
18.5
1.15
S0.5
46.7
39.7
–
–
1.65
23.4
19.9
–
–
1.07
S1
43
36.6
–
–
1.52
21.9
18.6
–
–
1.01
S1.5
45
38.3
–
–
1.59
23.2
19.7
–
–
1.06
Tab.10
Fig.22
sleeper series
average failure load, (kN)
concrete strength, (MPa)
S0
107.6
102.05
1.05
S0.5
119.1
112.00
1.06
S1
131.6
122.89
1.07
S1.5
153.4
132.87
1.15
Tab.11
1
A R Tolou Kian, J Sadeghi, J A Zakeri. Influences of railway ballast sand contamination on loading pattern of pre-stressed concrete sleeper. Construction & Building Materials, 2020, 233: 117324 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117324
J Sadeghi, P Barati. Comparisons of the mechanical properties of timber, steel and concrete sleepers. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 2010, 8: 1151–1159 https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2010.507706
4
Y Bae, S Pyo. Effect of steel fiber content on structural and electrical properties of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) sleepers. Engineering Structures, 2020, 222: 111131 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111131
5
A M Remennikov, M H Murray, S Kaewunruen. Conversion of AS1085. 14 for prestressed concrete sleepers to limit states design format. In: AusRAIL PLUS 2007 Conference & Exhibition. Sydney: Australian Railway Association (ARA), 2007, 1–18
6
R H Lutch. Capacity optimization of a prestressed concrete railroad tie. Thesis for the Master’s Degree. Houghton, MI: Michigan Technological University, 2009
7
J M Sadeghi, A Babaee. Structural optimization of B70 railway prestressed concrete sleepers. Iranian Journal of Science & Technology, Transaction B, Engineering, 2006, 30(B4): 461–473
8
S Kaewunruen, A M Remennikov. Progressive failure of prestressed concrete sleepers under multiple high-intensity impact loads. Engineering Structures, 2009, 31(10): 2460–2473 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2009.06.002
9
S Kaewunruen, A M Remennikov. Dynamic crack propagations in prestressed concrete sleepers in railway track systems subjected to severe impact loads. Journal of Structural Engineering, 2010, 136(6): 749–754 https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000152
10
V S Vairagade, K S Kene, T R Patil. Comparative study of steel fiber reinforced over control concrete. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2012, 2(5): 1–3
11
Ş Yazıcı, G Inan, V Tabak. Effect of aspect ratio and volume fraction of steel fiber on the mechanical properties of SFRC. Construction & Building Materials, 2007, 21(6): 1250–1253 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2006.05.025
12
Z Wu, C Shi, W He, L Wu. Effects of steel fiber content and shape on mechanical properties of ultra high performance concrete. Construction & Building Materials, 2016, 103: 8–14 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.11.028
13
A Beglarigale, H Yazici. Pull-out behavior of steel fiber embedded in flowable RPC and ordinary mortar. Construction & Building Materials, 2015, 75: 255–265 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.11.037
14
P Mahakavi, R Chithra. Impact resistance, microstructures and digital image processing on self-compacting concrete with hooked end and crimped steel fiber. Construction & Building Materials, 2019, 220: 651–666 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.06.001
15
R Abousnina, S Premasiri, V Anise, W Lokuge, V Vimonsatit, W Ferdous, O Alajarmeh. Mechanical properties of macro polypropylene fibre-reinforced concrete. Polymers, 2021, 13(23): 1–25 https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13234112
16
P Yu, A Manalo, W Ferdous, R Abousnina, C Salih, T Heyer, P Schubel. Investigation on the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of epoxy polymer matrix with crumb rubber and short fibres for composite railway sleepers. Construction & Building Materials, 2021, 295: 123700 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123700
17
L Li, B Wang, M H Hubler. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) dispersed in ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC): Mechanical property, workability and permeability investigation. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2022, 131: 104592 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104592
18
S Pyo, H K Kim, B Y Lee. Effects of coarser fine aggregate on tensile properties of ultra high performance concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2017, 84: 28–35 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2017.08.014
19
M SchmidtE FehlingC Geisenhanslüke. Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC): Proceedings of the International Symposium on Ultra High Performance Concrete. Kassel: Kassel University Press, 2004
20
239R-18 ACI. Ultra-High-Performance Concrete: An Emerging Technology Report. Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2018
21
M Safdar, T Matsumoto, K Kakuma. Flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams repaired with ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Composite Structures, 2016, 157: 448–460 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.09.010
22
D Y Yoo, Y S Jang, B Chun, S Kim. Chelate effect on fiber surface morphology and its benefits on pullout and tensile behaviors of ultra-high-performance concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2021, 115: 103864 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103864
23
N N Lam, L Van Hung. Mechanical and shrinkage behavior of basalt fiber reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete. GEOMATE Journal, 2021, 20(78): 28–35 https://doi.org/10.21660/2021.78.86151
13230-6 EN. Railway Applications-Track-Concrete Sleepers and Bearers—Part 6: Design. Brussles: European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 2014
26
13230-2 EN. Railway Applications-Track-Concrete Sleepers and Bearers—Part 2: Prestressed Monoblock Sleepers. Brussles: European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 2009
27
13481-2 EN. Railway applications-Track-Performance Requirements for Fastening Systems—Part 2: Fastening Systems for Concrete Sleepers. Brussles: European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 2014
28
10138-2 EN. Prestressing Steels—Part 2: Wire Armatures. Brussles: European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 2000
29
R Yu, P Spiesz, H J H Brouwers. Mix design and properties assessment of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Cement and Concrete Research, 2014, 56: 29–39 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.11.002
30
S Pyo, K Wille, S El-Tawil, A E Naaman. Strain rate dependent properties of ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) under tension. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2015, 56: 15–24 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.10.002
31
Z Mo, X Gao, A Su. Mechanical performances and microstructures of metakaolin contained UHPC matrix under steam curing conditions. Construction & Building Materials, 2021, 268: 121112 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121112
32
713R UIC. Design of Monoblock Concrete Sleepers. Paris: International Union of Railways, 2004, 30
33
J M Yang, H O Shin, Y S Yoon, D Mitchell. Benefits of blast furnace slag and steel fibers on the static and fatigue performance of prestressed concrete sleepers. Engineering Structures, 2017, 134: 317–333 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2016.12.045
34
D Y Yoo, J Y Lee, H O Shin, J M Yang, Y S Yoon. Effects of blast furnace slag and steel fiber on the impact resistance of railway prestressed concrete sleepers. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2019, 99: 151–164 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.03.015
35
544.4R-88 ACI. Design Considerations for Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete. Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 1999