Engineering Science and Materials Commons^™

Under Sleeper Pads: Field Investigation Of Their Role In Detrimental Impact Mitigation, Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Alex M. Remennikov

Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Under sleeper pads (USPs) are the component installed under the concrete sleepers generally to improve railway track resilience. Initial development in Europe, particularly in Austria, has encouraged the adoption of the component around the world. In practice, the component has commonly been used in certain applications, mainly to moderate track stiffness in special locations such as turnouts, crossings, and level crossing. In heavy haul operation, the heavier wagons result in sturdier bogie structures, higher unsprung mass, and then higher level of wheel-rail interaction forces. Accordingly, the application of USPs to mitigate detrimental impact load consequence on track structure is presented …