On The Prediction of the Life of Wood Crossties
Date
1997-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Railway Engineering Association
Abstract
The life of a wood crosstie will vary significantly based on track, roadway, and traffic conditions. Over the last several decades, significant research has been performed in evaluating the service life of wood crossties as a function of these parameters. This research has led to the development of analytical models for the prediction of the tie life and the effect of these parameters on this life. This paper will review the various studies that have examined the service life of wood cross-ties and the corresponding engineering relationships that have been developed. This paper will also examine the sensitivity of the tie life to such key parameters as track curvature, environmental conditions, track and roadway support conditions, traffic type (to include both speed and axle load), wood species, etc. In order to develop suitable tie life relationships for use in this activity, this paper will concentrate on conventional wood cross-ties with cut-spike fasteners. This system represents the dominant tie and fastener system used on North American freight railroads and as such will be the primary system analyzed herein. The effect of non- conventional fastener types, such as elastic fasteners, will also be presented.
Description
Keywords
Wood Crosstie, Tie life relationships, cut-spike fasteners
Citation
Zarembski, A. M. and Holfeld, D. R., “On the Prediction of the Life of Wood Crossties”, American Woodtie Preservers Association Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, April 1997.