The cross-level and twist irregularities are the most dangerous irregularity types that could cause wheel unloading with the risk of derailments and additional maintenance expenses.However,the mechanism of the irregul...The cross-level and twist irregularities are the most dangerous irregularity types that could cause wheel unloading with the risk of derailments and additional maintenance expenses.However,the mechanism of the irregularities initiation and development is unclear.The motivation of the present study was the previous experimental studies on the application of wide sleepers in the ballasted track.The long-term track geometry measurements with wide sleepers show an enormous reduction of the vertical longitudinal irregularities compared to the conventional track.However,wide sleepers had higher twist and cross-section level irregularities.The present paper aims to explain the phenomenon by discrete element method(DEM)modeling the development process of sleeper inhomogeneous support at cross-level depending on the sleeper form.The DEM simulations show that the maximal settlement intensity is up to 3.5 times lower for a wide sleeper in comparison with the conventional one.Nevertheless,the cross-level differential settlements are almost the same for both sleepers.The particle loading distribution after all loading cycles is concentrated on the smaller area,up to the half sleeper length,with fully unloaded zones under sleeper ends.Ballast flow limitation under the central part of the sleeper could improve the resilience of wide sleepers to the development of cross-level irregularities.The mechanism of initiation of the cross-level irregularity is proposed,which assumes the loss of sleeper support under sleeper ends.The further growth of inhomogeneous settlements along the sleeper is assumed as a result of the interaction of two processes:ballast flow due to dynamic impact during void closing and on the other side high pressure due to the concentration of the pressure under the middle part of the sleeper.The DEM simulation results support the assumption of the mechanism and agree with the experimental studies.展开更多
The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads(USPs)was studied.The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scann...The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads(USPs)was studied.The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scanning techniques,and the 3D dynamic model of the rail-sleeper-ballast bed was constructed using the coupled discrete element method-multiflexible-body dynamics(DEM-MFBD)approach.We analyse the meso-mechanical dynamics of the ballast bed with USPs under dynamic load on a train and verify the correctness of the model in laboratory tests.It is shown that the deformation of the USPs increases the contact area between the sleeper and the ballast particles,and subsequently the number of contacts between them.As the depth of the granular ballast bed increases,the contact area becomes larger,and the contact force between the ballast particles gradually decreases.Under the action of the elastic USPs,the contact forces between ballast particles are reduced and the overall vibration level of the ballast bed can be reduced.The settlement of the granular ballast bed occurs mainly at the shallow position of the sleeper bottom,and the installation of the elastic USPs can be effective in reducing the stress on the ballast particles and the settlement of the ballast bed.展开更多
With the development of high-speed and heavy-haul railway in China, problems like insufficient thickness of ballast bed and overlarge track stiffness are obvious. Ballast may break into small particles and their conta...With the development of high-speed and heavy-haul railway in China, problems like insufficient thickness of ballast bed and overlarge track stiffness are obvious. Ballast may break into small particles and their contact status will deteriorate under cyclic loading, resulting in ballast degradation. Discrete element method(DEM) was used to research improved performance of ballast bed using elastic sleeper. Clusters were generated by bonding spheres to model real ballasts, while broken bonds were utilized to distinguish breakage. Two kinds of ballast beds with elastic sleeper and conventional sleeper were established, respectively. After applying cyclic loading to the models, differences of mechanical properties between two models were analyzed by contrasting their dynamic behavior indexes, such as particle contact force, sleeper settlement, vibration velocity and acceleration, breakage characteristic. The results illustrate that compared with conventional sleeper, elastic sleeper increases sleeper settlement, while reduces ballast vibration and contact force between particles, which could depress ballast breakage.展开更多
The rates of oxygen consumption, tolerance of hypoxia and desiccation of the Chinese black sleeper （ Bostrichthys sinensis） and mudskipper （Boleophthalmus pectinirostris） embryos were investigated. The pattern of ...The rates of oxygen consumption, tolerance of hypoxia and desiccation of the Chinese black sleeper （ Bostrichthys sinensis） and mudskipper （Boleophthalmus pectinirostris） embryos were investigated. The pattern of oxygen consumption of the Chinese black sleeper embryos was similar to that of the mudskipper ones. The lowest rates of oxygen consumption [ （ 1.65 ±0. 66） nmol/ （ind. ·h） ] of the Chinese black sleeper embryos 16 h after fertilization and the lowest rates of oxygen consumption [ （0.79± 0.08 ）nmolf（ ind. · h） ] of the mudskipper embryos 6 h after fertilization were recorded, respectively. Then the rates of oxygen consumption of these two species embryos increased gradually until hatching [ （8.26 ± 1.70 ） nmolf（ ind.· h） in the Chinese black sleeper, （2.69 ± 0.23 ）nmolf（ ind. · h） in mudskipper]. After exposure to hypoxia water （0.16 mg/dm^3）, bradycardia of the embryos occurred in both the Chinese black sleeper and the mudskipper. However, the Chinese black sleeper embryos survived approximately 45 min longer than the mudskipper ones. After exposure to desiccation at a relative humidity of 58%, bradycardia of the embryos was observed in both the Chinese black sleeper and the mudskipper, and the Chinese black sleeper embryos lived approximately 9 min longer than the mudskipper ones.展开更多
The deterioration of the sleeper support on the ballasted track begins with the accumulation of sleeper voids.The increased dynamic loading in the voided zone and the ballast contact conditions cause the accelerated g...The deterioration of the sleeper support on the ballasted track begins with the accumulation of sleeper voids.The increased dynamic loading in the voided zone and the ballast contact conditions cause the accelerated growth of the settlements in the voided zones,which results in the appearance of local instabilities like ballast breakdown,white spots,subgrade defects,etc.The recent detection and quantification of the sleeper voids with track-side and onboard monitoring can help to avoid or delay the development of local instabilities.The present paper is devoted to the study of the dynamic behavior of railway track with sleeper voids in the ballast breakdown zone.The result of the experimental track-side measurements of rail acceleration and deflection is presented.The analysis shows the existence of the dynamic impact during wheel entry in the voided zone.However,the measured dynamic impact is subjected to the bias of the track-side measurement method.Both the mechanism of the impact and the measurement aspects are explained by using the one-beam model on viscoelastic foundation.The void features in the dynamic behavior are analyzed for the purpose of track-side and onboard monitoring.A practical method of the void parameter quantification is proposed.展开更多
The unsupported sleeper can change the load characteristics of ballast particles and thus affect the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed.In this work,a laboratory test was constructed on a ballasted track containing ...The unsupported sleeper can change the load characteristics of ballast particles and thus affect the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed.In this work,a laboratory test was constructed on a ballasted track containing unsupported sleepers.The ballasted track was excited by a wheelset,and the influence of unsupported sleepers on the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed was studied.The results show that the main frequency of the sleeper vibration appeared at 670 Hz,and the first-order rigid vibration mode at the frequency of 101 Hz had a significant effect on the condition without the unsupported sleeper.When the sleepers were continuously unsupported,the vibration damping effect of ballasted bed within the frequency range of 0–450 Hz was better than that at higher frequencies.Within the frequency range of 70–250 Hz,the vibration damping effect of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers was better than that without the unsupported sleeper.Owing to the excitation from the wheelset impact,the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers whose hanging heights were 30,60,and 90 mm increased by 37.43%,12.25%,and 18.23%,respectively,while the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed without the unsupported sleeper remained basically unchanged.The unsupported sleeper could increase the difference in the quality of the ballasted bed between two adjacent sleepers.In addition,test results show that the hanging height of the unsupported sleeper had little effect on the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed without external excitation,but had an obvious effect on the rate of change of the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed and the acceleration amplitude of the sleeper vibration under the wheelset impact.展开更多
This paper presents investigation results on the natural ultra-fine mineral flour of crystalline silica fume (CSF) and porous quartz sand stone (PQSS) which can modify cement mortar strength under hydrothermal synthe...This paper presents investigation results on the natural ultra-fine mineral flour of crystalline silica fume (CSF) and porous quartz sand stone (PQSS) which can modify cement mortar strength under hydrothermal synthesis reaction (HSR) in the autoclave-cured condition. The replacement of cement by CSF and PQSS can signifi cantly increase the Jflerural and compressive strength which reach 22MPa and 150MPa respectively and de-crease the porosity oj the cement mortar. The ratio oj fine aggregation, standard sand to cementions material has sig nificant influence on the mortar strength. The mechanisms involved in cement and natural mineral flour and the HSR are presented. CaO/SiO2 ratio ranges from 3. 20 to 1. 11. the main hydrate phase is C2SH and there is not Tober-morite through X-Ray diffraction qualitative analysis. The new and ultra-high strength cementious material as basic material of sleeper concrete can he used in prestressed reinforcement sleeper concrete.展开更多
This paper describes the economic and technological benefits of installing continuous welded rail （CWR） track on sharp （radius≤300 m） railway curves. A new form of prestressed concrete sleepers developed by the V...This paper describes the economic and technological benefits of installing continuous welded rail （CWR） track on sharp （radius≤300 m） railway curves. A new form of prestressed concrete sleepers developed by the V. Lazaryan Dniprope- trovsk National University of Railway Transport is shown to improve the lateral shift resistance of CWR track in sharp curves and the use of anchor sleepers on tangents is shown to make it possible to lower the fastening temperature of the CWR track in order to increase the rail lifespan.展开更多
Because non-buried submarine pipelines under cyclic thermal loading are prone to global buckling,sleepers are commonly laid along the pipeline route to induce a series of relatively small and controllable lateral buck...Because non-buried submarine pipelines under cyclic thermal loading are prone to global buckling,sleepers are commonly laid along the pipeline route to induce a series of relatively small and controllable lateral buckling.A finite element model which can simulate the transformation of pipeline laid on a sleeper from vertical buckling to lateral buckling is established in this work.The parameters of sleeper affecting pipeline buckling modes are analysed,and a new kind of sleeper is proposed aimed at avoiding antisymmetric buckling.Results show that the lateral trigger force can avoid antisymmetric lateral buckling when acting between 1℃and 13℃before the critical buckling temperature.The range increases slightly with increasing trigger force.Compared with an ordinary sleeper,the proposed new sleeper with slider can reduce the critical buckling temperature by 25%,which significantly improves the success rate of sleepers.展开更多
It is presented a State of the Art of international standards in the field of monoblock concrete sleepers design and calculation.Taking into account the fact that the Argentinian broad track gauge(1,676 mm)is differen...It is presented a State of the Art of international standards in the field of monoblock concrete sleepers design and calculation.Taking into account the fact that the Argentinian broad track gauge(1,676 mm)is different to international track gauge(1,435 mm)that is worldwide used,a comparative analysis is developed in order to evaluate the performance of internationals standards in the design of the sleepers used in Argentinian railways.Recommendations for future research are provided.展开更多
The operational and regional conditions to which the prestressed concrete sleeper(PCS)is subjected in a railway track significantly contribute to its performance and durability.Maintaining the health of PCS poses chal...The operational and regional conditions to which the prestressed concrete sleeper(PCS)is subjected in a railway track significantly contribute to its performance and durability.Maintaining the health of PCS poses challenges,and one of these issues involves the potential occurrence of longitudinal cracks in reinforcing bars,which can be caused by various constructional,functional,and environmental factors.Longitudinal cracks in PCS compromise the structural performance,resulting in a reduced capacity to withstand the loads exerted by moving vehicles.The current evaluations not only fail to yield a precise parameter for estimating the behavior and response of the PCS,but they also overlook the specific conditions of the PCS,such as prestressing,and only provide limited information regarding existing damage.Balancing the need for accurate evaluation with consideration of costs and resources,and making informed decisions about maintenance and track performance enhancement,has become a multifaceted challenge in ensuring a robust PCS assessment.This research introduces a novel methodology to improve the evaluation of mechanical and geometrical parameters of PCS over their operational lifespan.The objective is to enhance the accuracy of PCS performance estimation by concentrating on detecting longitudinal cracks.The suggested approach seamlessly integrates model updating methods and the finite element(FE)approach to achieve an accurate and timely assessment of PCS conditions.This comprehensive examination scrutinizes the methodology by applying artificial cracks to the PCS.In addition to introducing this assessment approach,a detailed examination is conducted on a laboratory-simulated PCS featuring various combinations of longitudinal cracks measuring 40,80,and 120 cm in length.This systematic and rigorous approach ensures the reliability and robustness of the methodology.Ultimately,the parameters of cross-sectional area,moment of inertia,and modulus of elasticity,which significantly impact the performance of this sleeper,are explored and demonstrated through functional methodologies.The findings suggest that assessing and addressing damage should be conducted through a comprehensive and integrated procedure,taking into account the actual conditions of the PCS.Longitudinal cracks lead to a substantial decrease in the performance of these components in railway tracks.By applying the proposed methods,it is anticipated that the evaluation error for these components will be reduced by approximately 30%compared to visual inspections,particularly in predicting the extent of damage for cracks measuring up to 120 cm.This research has the potential to significantly enhance the evaluation of PCS performance and mitigate the impact of longitudinal cracks on the safety and longevity of ballasted railway tracks in desert areas.展开更多
文摘The cross-level and twist irregularities are the most dangerous irregularity types that could cause wheel unloading with the risk of derailments and additional maintenance expenses.However,the mechanism of the irregularities initiation and development is unclear.The motivation of the present study was the previous experimental studies on the application of wide sleepers in the ballasted track.The long-term track geometry measurements with wide sleepers show an enormous reduction of the vertical longitudinal irregularities compared to the conventional track.However,wide sleepers had higher twist and cross-section level irregularities.The present paper aims to explain the phenomenon by discrete element method(DEM)modeling the development process of sleeper inhomogeneous support at cross-level depending on the sleeper form.The DEM simulations show that the maximal settlement intensity is up to 3.5 times lower for a wide sleeper in comparison with the conventional one.Nevertheless,the cross-level differential settlements are almost the same for both sleepers.The particle loading distribution after all loading cycles is concentrated on the smaller area,up to the half sleeper length,with fully unloaded zones under sleeper ends.Ballast flow limitation under the central part of the sleeper could improve the resilience of wide sleepers to the development of cross-level irregularities.The mechanism of initiation of the cross-level irregularity is proposed,which assumes the loss of sleeper support under sleeper ends.The further growth of inhomogeneous settlements along the sleeper is assumed as a result of the interaction of two processes:ballast flow due to dynamic impact during void closing and on the other side high pressure due to the concentration of the pressure under the middle part of the sleeper.The DEM simulation results support the assumption of the mechanism and agree with the experimental studies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants Nos.52165013 and 51565021.
文摘The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads(USPs)was studied.The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scanning techniques,and the 3D dynamic model of the rail-sleeper-ballast bed was constructed using the coupled discrete element method-multiflexible-body dynamics(DEM-MFBD)approach.We analyse the meso-mechanical dynamics of the ballast bed with USPs under dynamic load on a train and verify the correctness of the model in laboratory tests.It is shown that the deformation of the USPs increases the contact area between the sleeper and the ballast particles,and subsequently the number of contacts between them.As the depth of the granular ballast bed increases,the contact area becomes larger,and the contact force between the ballast particles gradually decreases.Under the action of the elastic USPs,the contact forces between ballast particles are reduced and the overall vibration level of the ballast bed can be reduced.The settlement of the granular ballast bed occurs mainly at the shallow position of the sleeper bottom,and the installation of the elastic USPs can be effective in reducing the stress on the ballast particles and the settlement of the ballast bed.
基金Project(U1234211)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2013G009-B)supported by China Railway Corporation
文摘With the development of high-speed and heavy-haul railway in China, problems like insufficient thickness of ballast bed and overlarge track stiffness are obvious. Ballast may break into small particles and their contact status will deteriorate under cyclic loading, resulting in ballast degradation. Discrete element method(DEM) was used to research improved performance of ballast bed using elastic sleeper. Clusters were generated by bonding spheres to model real ballasts, while broken bonds were utilized to distinguish breakage. Two kinds of ballast beds with elastic sleeper and conventional sleeper were established, respectively. After applying cyclic loading to the models, differences of mechanical properties between two models were analyzed by contrasting their dynamic behavior indexes, such as particle contact force, sleeper settlement, vibration velocity and acceleration, breakage characteristic. The results illustrate that compared with conventional sleeper, elastic sleeper increases sleeper settlement, while reduces ballast vibration and contact force between particles, which could depress ballast breakage.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.40476056the Science and Technology Key Project of Fujian Province of China under contract Nos 2003N026 and 2004SZ01-02.
文摘The rates of oxygen consumption, tolerance of hypoxia and desiccation of the Chinese black sleeper （ Bostrichthys sinensis） and mudskipper （Boleophthalmus pectinirostris） embryos were investigated. The pattern of oxygen consumption of the Chinese black sleeper embryos was similar to that of the mudskipper ones. The lowest rates of oxygen consumption [ （ 1.65 ±0. 66） nmol/ （ind. ·h） ] of the Chinese black sleeper embryos 16 h after fertilization and the lowest rates of oxygen consumption [ （0.79± 0.08 ）nmolf（ ind. · h） ] of the mudskipper embryos 6 h after fertilization were recorded, respectively. Then the rates of oxygen consumption of these two species embryos increased gradually until hatching [ （8.26 ± 1.70 ） nmolf（ ind.· h） in the Chinese black sleeper, （2.69 ± 0.23 ）nmolf（ ind. · h） in mudskipper]. After exposure to hypoxia water （0.16 mg/dm^3）, bradycardia of the embryos occurred in both the Chinese black sleeper and the mudskipper. However, the Chinese black sleeper embryos survived approximately 45 min longer than the mudskipper ones. After exposure to desiccation at a relative humidity of 58%, bradycardia of the embryos was observed in both the Chinese black sleeper and the mudskipper, and the Chinese black sleeper embryos lived approximately 9 min longer than the mudskipper ones.
基金The authors acknowledge the support of Swiss Federal Railways with the experimental measurements.
文摘The deterioration of the sleeper support on the ballasted track begins with the accumulation of sleeper voids.The increased dynamic loading in the voided zone and the ballast contact conditions cause the accelerated growth of the settlements in the voided zones,which results in the appearance of local instabilities like ballast breakdown,white spots,subgrade defects,etc.The recent detection and quantification of the sleeper voids with track-side and onboard monitoring can help to avoid or delay the development of local instabilities.The present paper is devoted to the study of the dynamic behavior of railway track with sleeper voids in the ballast breakdown zone.The result of the experimental track-side measurements of rail acceleration and deflection is presented.The analysis shows the existence of the dynamic impact during wheel entry in the voided zone.However,the measured dynamic impact is subjected to the bias of the track-side measurement method.Both the mechanism of the impact and the measurement aspects are explained by using the one-beam model on viscoelastic foundation.The void features in the dynamic behavior are analyzed for the purpose of track-side and onboard monitoring.A practical method of the void parameter quantification is proposed.
基金The present work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52008395).
文摘The unsupported sleeper can change the load characteristics of ballast particles and thus affect the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed.In this work,a laboratory test was constructed on a ballasted track containing unsupported sleepers.The ballasted track was excited by a wheelset,and the influence of unsupported sleepers on the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed was studied.The results show that the main frequency of the sleeper vibration appeared at 670 Hz,and the first-order rigid vibration mode at the frequency of 101 Hz had a significant effect on the condition without the unsupported sleeper.When the sleepers were continuously unsupported,the vibration damping effect of ballasted bed within the frequency range of 0–450 Hz was better than that at higher frequencies.Within the frequency range of 70–250 Hz,the vibration damping effect of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers was better than that without the unsupported sleeper.Owing to the excitation from the wheelset impact,the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers whose hanging heights were 30,60,and 90 mm increased by 37.43%,12.25%,and 18.23%,respectively,while the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed without the unsupported sleeper remained basically unchanged.The unsupported sleeper could increase the difference in the quality of the ballasted bed between two adjacent sleepers.In addition,test results show that the hanging height of the unsupported sleeper had little effect on the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed without external excitation,but had an obvious effect on the rate of change of the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed and the acceleration amplitude of the sleeper vibration under the wheelset impact.
基金Financially Supported by the Foundation of Science of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
文摘This paper presents investigation results on the natural ultra-fine mineral flour of crystalline silica fume (CSF) and porous quartz sand stone (PQSS) which can modify cement mortar strength under hydrothermal synthesis reaction (HSR) in the autoclave-cured condition. The replacement of cement by CSF and PQSS can signifi cantly increase the Jflerural and compressive strength which reach 22MPa and 150MPa respectively and de-crease the porosity oj the cement mortar. The ratio oj fine aggregation, standard sand to cementions material has sig nificant influence on the mortar strength. The mechanisms involved in cement and natural mineral flour and the HSR are presented. CaO/SiO2 ratio ranges from 3. 20 to 1. 11. the main hydrate phase is C2SH and there is not Tober-morite through X-Ray diffraction qualitative analysis. The new and ultra-high strength cementious material as basic material of sleeper concrete can he used in prestressed reinforcement sleeper concrete.
文摘This paper describes the economic and technological benefits of installing continuous welded rail （CWR） track on sharp （radius≤300 m） railway curves. A new form of prestressed concrete sleepers developed by the V. Lazaryan Dniprope- trovsk National University of Railway Transport is shown to improve the lateral shift resistance of CWR track in sharp curves and the use of anchor sleepers on tangents is shown to make it possible to lower the fastening temperature of the CWR track in order to increase the rail lifespan.
基金financially supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (Grant No.51825904)。
文摘Because non-buried submarine pipelines under cyclic thermal loading are prone to global buckling,sleepers are commonly laid along the pipeline route to induce a series of relatively small and controllable lateral buckling.A finite element model which can simulate the transformation of pipeline laid on a sleeper from vertical buckling to lateral buckling is established in this work.The parameters of sleeper affecting pipeline buckling modes are analysed,and a new kind of sleeper is proposed aimed at avoiding antisymmetric buckling.Results show that the lateral trigger force can avoid antisymmetric lateral buckling when acting between 1℃and 13℃before the critical buckling temperature.The range increases slightly with increasing trigger force.Compared with an ordinary sleeper,the proposed new sleeper with slider can reduce the critical buckling temperature by 25%,which significantly improves the success rate of sleepers.
文摘It is presented a State of the Art of international standards in the field of monoblock concrete sleepers design and calculation.Taking into account the fact that the Argentinian broad track gauge(1,676 mm)is different to international track gauge(1,435 mm)that is worldwide used,a comparative analysis is developed in order to evaluate the performance of internationals standards in the design of the sleepers used in Argentinian railways.Recommendations for future research are provided.
文摘The operational and regional conditions to which the prestressed concrete sleeper(PCS)is subjected in a railway track significantly contribute to its performance and durability.Maintaining the health of PCS poses challenges,and one of these issues involves the potential occurrence of longitudinal cracks in reinforcing bars,which can be caused by various constructional,functional,and environmental factors.Longitudinal cracks in PCS compromise the structural performance,resulting in a reduced capacity to withstand the loads exerted by moving vehicles.The current evaluations not only fail to yield a precise parameter for estimating the behavior and response of the PCS,but they also overlook the specific conditions of the PCS,such as prestressing,and only provide limited information regarding existing damage.Balancing the need for accurate evaluation with consideration of costs and resources,and making informed decisions about maintenance and track performance enhancement,has become a multifaceted challenge in ensuring a robust PCS assessment.This research introduces a novel methodology to improve the evaluation of mechanical and geometrical parameters of PCS over their operational lifespan.The objective is to enhance the accuracy of PCS performance estimation by concentrating on detecting longitudinal cracks.The suggested approach seamlessly integrates model updating methods and the finite element(FE)approach to achieve an accurate and timely assessment of PCS conditions.This comprehensive examination scrutinizes the methodology by applying artificial cracks to the PCS.In addition to introducing this assessment approach,a detailed examination is conducted on a laboratory-simulated PCS featuring various combinations of longitudinal cracks measuring 40,80,and 120 cm in length.This systematic and rigorous approach ensures the reliability and robustness of the methodology.Ultimately,the parameters of cross-sectional area,moment of inertia,and modulus of elasticity,which significantly impact the performance of this sleeper,are explored and demonstrated through functional methodologies.The findings suggest that assessing and addressing damage should be conducted through a comprehensive and integrated procedure,taking into account the actual conditions of the PCS.Longitudinal cracks lead to a substantial decrease in the performance of these components in railway tracks.By applying the proposed methods,it is anticipated that the evaluation error for these components will be reduced by approximately 30%compared to visual inspections,particularly in predicting the extent of damage for cracks measuring up to 120 cm.This research has the potential to significantly enhance the evaluation of PCS performance and mitigate the impact of longitudinal cracks on the safety and longevity of ballasted railway tracks in desert areas.
