New Test To Determine the Bond Quality of Reinforcements for Concrete Railroad Ties [Research Results]

Federal Railroad Administration2021PDFBriefStuart, CameronPeterman, Robert J.Beck, B TerryJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)LB Foster/CXT Conrete TiesTTCI, IncPrecast/Prestressed Concrete InstituteUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Development and TechnologyUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Development, and TechnologyUnited StatesPrestressed concrete tiesRailroad tiesStandardsLengthLoad transferPretensioningStrain (Mechanics)Bond strength (Materials)Steel wireASTM A1096pullout testtransfer lengthtransmission lengthindented wireRR 21-10DTFR53-11-C-00020Stuart, Cameron DResearch ResultsThis report summarizes the development of an un-tensioned pullout test to quantify the bond quality of prestressing wires used in the manufacture of pretensioned concrete railroad ties. Bond quality will vary considerably based on the characteristics of the wire indents. This research successfully developed a practical and efficient un-tensioned pullout test to determine the bond quality of steel reinforcement wires. The test produces results that strongly correlate with transfer lengths in pretensioned concrete members. ASTM International has formally adopted the test as ASTM A1096 and it is now also recognized in Section 4.2.4.3 of the 2021 AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering.119