Full-scale static and single impact testing of prestressed concrete sleepers reinforced with macro synthetic fibres

Excessive cracking of concrete sleepers has resulted in under-utilising its' full capacity in the railway industry. By controlling such cracking behaviour of the sleepers, an optimised section can assist in minimising the maintenance budgets of the track authorities. Over the past decades, macro synthetic fibre reinforcement is gaining popularity as a structural fibre due to its improved tensile strength and elastic modulus. Characteristically, the implementation of fibre into concrete is well known for suppressing cracks and improving residual capacity. Thus, the work herein aimed at experimentally investigating the behaviour of macro synthetic fibre reinforced concrete sleepers under static and impact loading conditions. The capacity and failure modes at rail-seat are critically compared between sleepers with and without fibres, drawing the conclusions of higher ductility and higher energy absorption of prestressed concrete sleepers with fibre reinforcement.