DEVELOPMENT OF CONVENTIONAL RAILWAY SLEEPERS

ABSTRACT

This study is set to investigate a more functional, durable and easy maintenance and environmental friendly material for railway sleepers. Thus, this research work focuses on the use of plastic waste composite materials for the production of conventional railway sleepers for the replacement of traditional railway sleepers (timber, steel and prestressed concrete). Prestressed concrete is the most commonly used material for railway sleepers in Nigeria. It offers greater durability than timber and steel, however, it suffers from being heavy and having high initial cost, low impact resistance and susceptibility to chemical attack. Due to the heavy weights, their transportation costs are significantly higher, they are difficult to handle and requires expensive and extensive equipment for installation. Therefore, the elevated maintenance costs of sleepers makes it even more important to study railway sleeper materials. It is discovered that fibre composites railway sleepers offer high strength to weight ratio, and present a longer lifecycle, reducing maintenance costs. Moreover, fibre composites are easy to handle, they can be drilled in situ for the connection of the fastener system and inserted under the track as timber sleepers.