Comparative Investigations into Environment-Friendly Production Methods for Railway Prestressed Concrete Sleepers and Bearers

Abstract

Prestressed concrete sleeper is a safety-critical track component widely used in ballasted railway tracks. The performance, endurance and quality of prestressed concrete sleepers can detrimentally affect the serviceability and durability of a railway track. An optimal production method is an important criterion underpinning quality and durability over the entire service life of prestressed concrete sleepers. At present, the research work of the sleeper mainly focuses on the dynamic load, bearing capacity and structural design method, etc. However, there exists a lack of research on the specific advantages and disadvantages of the sleeper production process and the improvement of the sleeper process research. This study is the world’s first to collect and analyse the technical data and characteristics of modern production methods of prestressed concrete sleepers, including the long-line system method, pre-tensioned long-mould flow method, pre-tensioned short-mould flow method, post-tensioned short-mould flow method and instant-demoulded short-mould flow method. The precautions for these prestressed concrete sleepers are highlighted in the paper as well. The research results show that the long-line system method, pre-tensioned short-mould flow method, post-tensioned short-mould flow method and instant-demoulded short-mould flow method have a higher automation level and lower efficiency than the pre-tensioned long-mould flow method. The production method of the pre-tensioned long-mould flow method has high efficiency and low cost of equipment, but more workers are needed. Through a comparative analysis, this paper also determines the environmental impacts and provide new references and suggestions for the development and progress of sleeper production technologies.