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Sleepers in Railway Engineering

The document discusses different types of railway sleepers used to support rails and transfer load from rails to the ballast and subgrade. It describes the key functions of sleepers in maintaining rail gauge, alignment and load distribution. The main types covered are wooden, metal (steel and cast iron), and concrete sleepers. For each type, their design features and advantages/disadvantages are summarized. Concrete sleepers are highlighted as becoming more widely used due to their greater durability and suitability for modern rail systems.

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921 views48 pages

Sleepers in Railway Engineering

The document discusses different types of railway sleepers used to support rails and transfer load from rails to the ballast and subgrade. It describes the key functions of sleepers in maintaining rail gauge, alignment and load distribution. The main types covered are wooden, metal (steel and cast iron), and concrete sleepers. For each type, their design features and advantages/disadvantages are summarized. Concrete sleepers are highlighted as becoming more widely used due to their greater durability and suitability for modern rail systems.

Uploaded by

Anonymous zAoKLFG
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 48

SLEEPERS

Railways and Airport Engineering

Sleepers
Sleepers are members generally laid

transverse to the rails on which the


rails are supported and fixed, to
transfer the loads from the rails to
the ballast and the subgrade below

Functions of Sleepers
To hold the rails to correct gauge and alignment
To act as a elastic medium between the ballast and rails
Transferring the load evenly from rails to wider area of

ballast
To support the rails in proper level in straight track and

in proper super elevation on curved track


Sleepers also add to the longitudinal and lateral

stability of the permanent track

Requirements of Sleepers
Sleepers used should be economical initial and

maintenance cost should be minimum


The fittings of the sleepers should be such that they

can be easily adjusted during maintenance operations (


easy lifting, packing, removal and replacement)
The weight of the sleepers should not be too heavy or

excessively light
The design of the sleepers should be such that the

gauge, alignment of track and levels of the rails can be


easily adjusted and maintained
5

Requirements of Sleepers
The sleeper design and spacing should facilitate easy

removal and replacement of ballast


It should resists shocks and vibration due to heavy load

of high speed trains


Design of sleepers are in such a way that they are not

damaged during packing processes


An ideal sleeper should also have an anti sabotage

and anti theft qualities

Laying of Sleepers
Sleepers shall be laid square to rails on straight and

radially on curve.
The sleeper spacing should be marked on outer rail in

case of curved track.


Closer spacing should be provided at joint sleepers of

fish plated joints and between joint sleeper and


shoulder sleeper.

SLEEPER DENSITY AND SPACING OF


SLEEPERS
Sleeper density is the number of sleepers per

rail length.
It is specified as (M + x) or (N + x), where M or
N is the length of the rail in metres and x is a
number that varies according to factors such as
(a) axle load and speed,
(b) type and section of rails,
(c) type and strength of the sleepers,
(d) type of ballast and depth of ballast
cushion, and
(e) nature of formation.
8

If the sleeper density is M+ 7 on a broad

gauge route and


the length of the rail is 13 m,
it implies that 13 + 7 = 20 sleepers will be
used per rail length of the track on that route.
The spacing of sleepers is fixed depending
upon the sleeper density.
Spacing is not kept uniform throughout the
rail length. It is closer near the joints because
of the weakness of the joints and impact of
moving loads on them
9

10

Classification of Sleepers
Wooden sleepers
Metal sleepers
Cast iron sleepers
Steel sleepers

Concrete sleepers
Reinforced concrete sleepers
Prestressed concrete sleepers

11

Wooden Sleepers
These sleepers are regarded to be the best as

they satisfy all the requirements and suitable


for track circuiting
The life of wooden sleepers depends upon
their ability to resist wear, attack by white
ants and quality of timber used
Standard size of wooden sleepers for different
gauges
B.G 2740*250*130mm
M.G 1830*203*114 mm
N.G. 1520*150*100 mm
12

Wooden Sleepers
Advantages

Easy to manufacture and


handling.

Suitable for track circuited


area.

Very few fitting and simple in


design

Suitable for bridges,


Points/Crossings.

Alignment can be easily


corrected.

13

Wooden Sleepers
Disadvantages
Lesser life.
Difficult to maintain the gauge.
Susceptible to fire hazards.

14

Description of Wooden Sleepers


Durable and non durable types of sleepers
Life of Sleeper
Durable
19 years (BG) and 31 years (MG)
Non-Durable
12 to 16 years.

15

Metal Sleepers
Due to scarcity of wooden sleepers, high cost and short

life, metal sleepers are now being adopted in India


Requirements
Should bear the tensile and compressive stresses
Tamping and packing of ballast should not disturb

the sleeper
For track circuiting, insulation should be possible
Metal sleepers should be overall economical as

compared to wooden sleepers


16

Advantages of Metal Sleepers


Uniform in strength and durability
Performance of fitting are better and hence less creep

occurs
Economical as long life and easy maintenance
Adjustment and maintenance of gauge is easy
Scrap value is more
Resistance to fire hazards

17

Disadvantages of Metal
Sleepers
More ballast are required
More number of fittings are required difficult to

maintain and inspect


Liable to rusting / corrosion
Track circuiting - good conductor of electricity
Unsuitable for bridges, level crossing and point and

crossing

18

Steel sleepers are of two types


Key type steel sleepers

Lugs or jaws are pressed out of the plate

Two holes are punched into either side of


the plate to accommodate specially deigned
loose jaws. Rails are held with the help of
two standard keys driven into the loose jaws

Clip and bolt type steel

sleepers
In this type of sleeper , clips and bolts are used

for holding the rails. cracks are not developed


in the sleepers as the holes for the bolts are
small and circular. It requires 4 clips and 4
bolts for holding each rails.
19

Steel Sleeper with pressed up


lug

20

Steel Sleepers with loose jaws

21

22

23

Advantages of Steel Sleepers


Longer life
Better Stability
Lesser damage during handling /Transport
Easy to maintain Gauge
Simple Manufacturing Process
High Scrap value
24

Disadvantages of Steel
Sleepers
Liable for corrosion
Not fit for track circuited area
Develops cracks at rail seat during

service
25

Usual defects in Steel Sleepers


Rusted and corroded metal
Cracks at rail seat or near the lugs
Elongation of holes

26

Cast Iron Sleepers


Pot or Bowl Sleepers
Plate Sleepers
Box Sleepers
C ST 9 sleepers (Combination of plate and box type)
Rail free duplex sleeper

27

Pot or bowl sleeper


Pot sleeper consist of two bowls

placed under each rail and


connected together by a tie-bar. The
total effective area of both the pots
is 0.464 sq. m. Each pot is provided
with two holes for inspection and
packing of ballast. On the top of each
pot, a rail seat is provided to hold
rails at an inward slope of 1 in 20.
28

29

30

Plate sleeper:
Plate sleepers consists of two rectangular

plates of 864 mm X 305 mm in size with


short side parallel to rail. The plates are
provided with projecting ribs in the
bottom to provide a grip in the ballast for
lateral stability. The plates are held in
position by tie-bar. Stiffness are provided
at the top of the plate to increase the
strength. It provides the effective bearing
area of 0.464sq. m per sleeper.
31

Box Sleeper:
These sleepers are not in user these

days. Box sleepers are similar to


plate sleepers. In this type of
sleeper, a box is provided at the top
of each plate to hold the rails.

32

CST-9 Sleeper:
CST-9 sleeper is more satisfactory

than other C.I. Sleepers and is


extensively used in Indian Railways
since last thirty years. It is a
combination of pot, plate, and box
sleeper.

33

34

Duplex Sleepers:
Duplex sleepers are also known as rail

free duplex sleepers and have been used


at rail joints in conjunction with CST_9
sleepers. These sleepers are used at rail
joints to prevent cantilever action
between two supports of the CST-9
sleepers. These consists of two plates,
each of size 850 mm X 750 mm. The
plates are placed with the longer side
parallel to the rails and are connected
with a tie-bar.
35

Advantage of cast iron sleepers


Less corrosion
Less probability of cracking at rail seat
Easy to manufacture
Higher scrap value

36

Cast Iron Sleepers


Disadvantages of Cast Iron Sleepers
Not suitable for high speed route.
Difficult to maintain the Gauge.
Lesser lateral stability.
Not fit for track circuited area.
Not suitable for mechanical maintenance.
Tie bars weakened by corrosion.

37

Concrete Sleepers
Types of concrete Sleepers
Prestressed Concrete Sleepers
Reinforced concrete Sleepers

38

39

Concrete Sleepers
Advantages of concrete Sleepers
Greater stability
Track geometry maintained for much. Longer duration

hence economical
Best suited for machine maintenance
Suitable for Track circuiting area
No chances of damage by fire/ corrosion
No possibility of theft

40

Concrete Sleepers
No chances of gauge widening.
Best performance on Guard rails , Level Crossings,

Check rail in curve.

41

Concrete Sleepers
Disadvantage

Handling and laying is difficult being heavy.

Damage is very heavy in case of derailment.

No scrap value.

Not suitable for manual packing.

42

Concrete Sleepers
Due to the shortage of wooden sleepers and need for

better design and economy of sleepers on sustainable


basis, concrete sleepers are developed
Concrete sleepers found to be a ideal materials for

sleepers due to
Made of strong and homogeneous material
Impervious to the effect of moisture
Unaffected by chemical attack of atmospheric gases

or sub soil salts


43

Concrete Sleepers
Special rail fastenings are necessary for concrete

sleepers to achieve the following


To prevent deterioration of concrete at the rail seat

through continuous pounding action


To contain the locked up temperature stresses

A shock absorbing or a resilient plate pad is provided at

the rail seat to prevent deterioration and hard riding


Flexible fastening are required to be used such as

elastic spikes, clip or spring spike etc.,


44

Reinforced Concrete Sleepers


Through type or one piece or mono block
When

subjected to tensile stresses, cracks are

developed on the tension side


Due to repetition of load over the sleepers the crack

get wider which results in failure of sleepers

Composite or Block and tie type


Not subject to same degree of

tensile stress, since

inverted T section is used as a tie member. Not


used now a days
45

46

Pre - stressed Concrete


Sleepers
Concrete is put under very high initial compression and

the design is based on


Max. permissible compressive strength of 211 kg/cm 2
Minimum cube crushing strength of concrete in the

sleepers is 422 kg/cm2 at 28 days


The pre stressed wires are stressed to an initial

stress of 8.82 kg/cm2

47

48

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