Effect of Concrete Composition on Splitting Cracks in Prestressed Concrete Railroad Ties [Research Results]

Federal Railroad Administration2022PDFBriefStuart, CameronPeterman, Robert J.Beck, B TerryLB Foster/CXT Conrete TiesJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Development, and TechnologyKansas State University. Department of Civil EngineeringKansas State University. Department of Mechanical and Nuclear EngineeringUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad AdministrationUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad AdministrationUnited StatesPrestressed concrete tiesRailroad tiesFracture mechanicsFracture propertiesCrackingCorrosion resistancelongitudinal splitting cracksRR 22-05DTFR53-11-C-00020Research ResultsThis research was part of a larger project, \u201cDeveloping Qualification Tests to Ensure Proper Selection and Interaction of Pretensioned Concrete Railroad Tie Materials.\u201d Kansas State University (KSU) conducted this research under contract with the Federal Railroad Administration from 2015 through 2019. This report highlights advances in methods to evaluate the splitting crack growth potential for various mixtures used to fabricate prestressed concrete railroad ties.127