A Review of Composites Sleepers Used in the Railway Structure

A Review of Composites Sleepers Used in the Railway Structure
  IJETT-book-cover           
  
© 2024 by IJETT Journal
Volume-72 Issue-12
Year of Publication : 2024
Author : Mbatha Abednigo Jabu, AA Alugongo, NZ Nkomo
DOI : 10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V72I12P130

How to Cite?
Mbatha Abednigo Jabu, AA Alugongo, NZ Nkomo, "A Review of Composites Sleepers Used in the Railway Structure," International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, vol. 72, no. 12, pp. 360-366, 2024. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V72I12P130

Abstract
Composite railway sleepers made of recycled materials are gaining increased attention and momentum. The railway industry has used composite sleepers due to their increased mechanical strength and vibrational damping properties on the railway track system. The railway sleepers that have been widely used traditionally are timber, concrete, and steel. Timber sleepers have problems with fungal and termite attacks. Concrete sleepers tend to form cracks that lead to premature failure. Steel sleepers have a corrosion problem and cannot be used in modern trains running high speeds beyond 100km/hr. Composites sleepers have been adopted in the locomotive industry due to their durability and acceptable mechanical strength. This review paper discusses the properties of composite sleepers fabricated to accommodate modern trains that travel fast in the automotive industry. There is great potential for using composite sleepers in the locomotive industry because they can be biodegradable, making the disposal process extremely easy and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, composite railway sleepers are cheaper to manufacture and maintain. Further research is still needed to enhance composite sleepers' durability and mechanical properties, especially plastic sleepers, as they tend to succumb to creep, resulting in their deformation over time.

Keywords
Composites sleeper, Railway line, Mechanical properties, Plastic Sleepers, Concrete Sleepers.

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