Performance and Durability Analysis of Recycled Rail Sleeper by Finite Element Method
Keywords:
Recycled rail; large scale system; fatigue testing; stepwise load increase test method.Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive performance and durability evaluation of recycled railway sleepers using the Finite Element Method (FEM) implemented in MATLAB. The research investigates three sleeper types Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC), pure HDPE, and steel-reinforced HDPE to determine their structural behavior under realistic static and dynamic axle loads. Geometric modelling and material characterization were integrated into a FEM framework to simulate stress distribution, flexural response, rail-seat pressure, and long-term deformation. RCC sleepers demonstrated high stiffness and strong resistance to compressive fatigue but showed vulnerability to tensile cracking at rail seats. HDPE sleepers exhibited excellent resilience, impact absorption, and environmental durability, though their lower modulus resulted in higher deflection. Steel-reinforced HDPE sleepers provided a balanced performance, combining the durability of polymers with the structural strength of steel, leading to improved bending capacity and reduced deformation. Comparative analysis showed that recycled polymer-based sleepers, particularly the reinforced HDPE variant, offer viable and sustainable alternatives to traditional RCC sleepers. The results affirm that FEM-based modelling is an effective tool for predicting sleeper performance and guiding material optimization for modern railway infrastructure.
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