Fatigue Life Evaluation of PC Sleepers Based on Wheel Load Measurement Results

Abstract

In this study, the remaining life of PC sleepers is evaluated from the viewpoint of the fatigue life of PC-steels of PC sleepers. Specifically, a method of acquiring the stress waveform of PC-steels during train running is developed. Furthermore, using this waveform, we calculate the fatigue strength of PC-steels in consideration of the occurrence probability of wheel loads in actual measurement, and quantitatively evaluate the fatigue life of PC-steels. The result of this study shows that PC-steels for a post-tension type have a longer fatigue life than those for a pre-tension type, and PC-steels for both types have a fatigue life of over 300 years.