Article: Wide sleepers perform well in comparative tests: Pfleiderer has studied the performance of six designs of concrete sleeper and their effect on the ballast and subsoil in connection with train speed and axleload. The main conclusion is that the greater the contact area of the sleeper the less damage is caused to the ballast.(Track)

ONE of the functions of sleepers is to transmit train loads to the ballast. But this intermittent compressive stress gradually exerts a destructive effect on the ballast, although file larger the contact area of the sleeper, the lower the stress to the ballast.

Ballast is also affected by intermittent vibrations from passing trains which increase with speed. The elasticity of the rail fastenings also "affects the stress acting on the ballast, whereby the greater the stiffness of the rail fastening, the greater the rate of vibration.

Rates of vibrations have been measured under ICE trains at speeds of 250km/h. Two different rail pads were used: the harder ...

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