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Sleepers

This document discusses different types of sleepers used in railways, including concrete, wooden, and iron sleepers. It provides details on specific concrete sleeper models like the B58 and B70, as well as dimensions for standard wooden sleepers. The document also covers information about sleepers such as proper spacing distances and use of lateral resistance plates on curves. Finally, it identifies common sleeper defects such as fractures, cracks, peeling, and abrasion.

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Abdulhmeed Mutalat
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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303 views17 pages

Sleepers

This document discusses different types of sleepers used in railways, including concrete, wooden, and iron sleepers. It provides details on specific concrete sleeper models like the B58 and B70, as well as dimensions for standard wooden sleepers. The document also covers information about sleepers such as proper spacing distances and use of lateral resistance plates on curves. Finally, it identifies common sleeper defects such as fractures, cracks, peeling, and abrasion.

Uploaded by

Abdulhmeed Mutalat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

1

THE SLEEPERS

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

THE SLEEPERS

SLEEPER TYPES
INFO ABOUT SLEEPERS
SLEEPER DEFECTS

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

SLEEPER TYPES
CONCRETE SLEEPERS

Concrete sleepers
Concrete sleeper is the most widely used type of sleeper
today. It is used on tracks and switches.

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

SLEEPER TYPES
CONCRETE SLEEPERS

Types of concrete sleepers


B58 Concrete sleeper
This is used together with 49 E1 (S49) rails. Its technical
drawing is provided in Figure-1 below.

MARCH 2015

Approximate weight 250 kg

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

SLEEPER TYPES
CONCRETE SLEEPERS

B70 Concrete sleeper


This is used together with 60 E1 (UIC60) rails. Its technical
drawing is provided in Figure-2 below.

MARCH 2015

Approximate weight 291 kg


Research, Planning & Coordination Department

SLEEPER TYPES
WOODEN SLEEPER

Wooden sleepers
It is used on any kind of rail, mainlines and switches.
Since wood is already flexible, forces from the rail are
elastically transmitted to the ballast.
Three types of wooden sleepers are used on the line, namely
line sleepers, switch sleepers and bridge sleepers.
Dimensions of standard wooden sleepers (line sleepers) are as
follows: 2.60 2.70 m in length, 23 26 cm in width and 13 16 cm in height.
Flexible nature of wooden sleepers decrease the noise level of
the lines compared to the lines where other types of sleepers
(iron and concrete) are used.
MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

SLEEPER TYPES
WOODEN SLEEPER

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

SLEEPER TYPES
IRON SLEEPERS

Iron sleepers
Iron sleepers are manufactured from mild steel. Because they
have clawed heads, they resist lateral movements of the track.
If the sleeper is not connected well to the rail, there may occur
abrasion under vertical and lateral impacts on the surface
where the rail foot seats.

Due to decrease in sleeper section as a result of such abrasion,


resistance at the relevant point decreases and cracks and
fractures occur. Therefore, connections of sleepers must be
perfect.
MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

THE SLEEPERS
INFO ABOUT SLEEPERS

Distance between sleepers


The design value of the distance between sleepers should be 60

cm for lines with UIC 60 (60 E1) rails or rails of larger crosssection, and 62 cm for lines where other types of rails are used.

Shorter distances may also be used. However, for shorter


distances, maintenance works would be difficult due to
significantly increasing costs.
Maximum deviations for distances between concrete and wooden
sleepers based on the design values on the next page.
MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

10

THE SLEEPERS
INFO ABOUT SLEEPERS

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

11

THE SLEEPERS
INFO ABOUT SLEEPERS
Table 3: Limit values for distance between sleepers (mm)
(Deviation from the design value) (mm)

Operating
speed of the Side Tracks
line, V
AL

(Warning)

60

V<160 km/h

50

V160 km/h Measures to be taken

40

Monitor

IL
(Maintenan
ce)

70

60

50

Correct sleeper tie


spacing within 3
months.

IAL
(Interventio
n)

80

70

60

Correct sleeper tie


spacing within 2 weeks.

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

12

THE SLEEPERS
INFO ABOUT SLEEPERS

Mounting lateral resistance plates on sleepers to


ensure lateral resistance of track at curves

In case the length of rails used is longer than 72


meters, resistance plates should be used to ensure
lateral resistance of the track.

Lateral resistance plates are used as indicated in


the table on the next page.
MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

13

THE SLEEPERS
INFO ABOUT SLEEPERS
Table 4: Use of lateral resistance plates depending on rail length, curve radius and sleeper length

Lateral resistance plates to be used on curves with rails longer than 72 meters
(for a sleeper length of 2.40 m)

Radius of Curve
(R) (m)
R 400
300 R < 400
250 R < 300
R < 250

Use of lateral resistance plate


No need.
1 per 3 sleepers
1 per 2 sleepers
1 per each sleeper

Sleeper resistance plates to be used on curves with rails longer than 72 meters
(for a sleeper length of 2.60 m)
Radius of Curve
(R) (m)
R 300
270 R < 300
250 R < 270
R < 250
MARCH 2015

Use of lateral resistance plate

No need.
1 per 3 sleepers
1 per 2 sleepers
1 per each sleeper
Research, Planning & Coordination Department

14

THE SLEEPERS
INFO ABOUT SLEEPERS

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

15

THE SLEEPERS
SLEEPER DEFECTS

Common sleeper defects are as follows:

Surface defects (fractures, cracks, etc.)


Peeling,
Rough and sediment surfaces,
Abrasion due to tamping works, inappropriate ballast

use or shoulder settlements.


MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

16

THE SLEEPERS
SLEEPER DEFECTS

Picture 1 : Fracture

Picture 2 : Abrasion

Picture 3 : Longitudinal crack

MARCH 2015

Research, Planning & Coordination Department

17

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