Travelling in railways n nothing new for us. We are very much familiar with the tracks along which the train moves. The two parallel rails are where the wheels of the train in embedded. Connecting these two rails are smaller rectangular plank like structures that distributes the load of the train evenly making it move smoothly. This is known as sleepers of a train on which the rails move. These have been widely utilised all over the world since 1950, and have the properties of being water resistant, sun resistant, and corrosion resistant.
Railway Sleepers Come in a Variety of Shapes and Sizes
The sleepers are divided into 3 groups, based on the materials used in their construction which are explained below:
- Sleepers made of wood: This is a set of wooden sleepers. Wooden sleepers have been utilised since the beginning of time. In several Western nations, they are still commonly used. Wooden sleepers can be made from either hardwood or softwood. Hardwood sleepers consisting of oak, jarrah, and teakwood are more well-known.
- Sleepers made of steel: Steel sleepers are more commonly utilised since they are more durable than wood and less expensive than concrete. They also have a long life expectancy. They are formed in a trough shape and set in an inversed trough shape atop ballast.
- Sleepers made of cast iron: Cast iron sleepers are used extensively around the world, particularly in Indian railways. There are two sorts of sleepers: pot sleepers and plate sleepers. Curves sharper than 4 degrees are not ideal for pot type sleepers.
Concrete Sleepers in Railways: Description and Uses
Sleepers that are made of concrete and has been reinforced with steel is known to be the concrete sleeper. Concrete ones are widely utilised in various nations because to their excellent stability and low maintenance requirements. These are more suited to high-speed rail systems. The majority of concrete sleepers are composed of pre-stressed concrete, which is created by inducing internal tension in the sleeper prior to casting. As a result, the sleeper can tolerate considerable external pressure.
- By anchoring the rails in place, sleepers keep them in appropriate gauge.
- It is responsible for transferring the weights from the track to the ballast.
- Provide consistent and strong support.
- It acts as a flexible link between the rails and the ballast.
- It assures the overall stability of the permanent path.
Railways concrete sleepers benefits
There is always a reason behind the popularity of a product. In this case of the concrete made sleepers, we can note the following points as the benefits it will provide:
- Available in a variety of colours and finishes to complement the aura.
- Require very little upkeep to keep your retaining wall looking great. You do not have to worry about regular maintenance and repair work of the concrete sleepers.
- The only product on the market that meets or surpasses AS4678 criteria while also adhering to the National Construction Code.
- Termite resistant and will not rust, decay, or corrode.
- Retaining walls are sometimes less expensive to install than rival retaining wall alternatives.
- Easy to put together and a variety of supplies as well as clear instructions to make your job go smoothly.
- Has a 35-year product guarantee as well as a 60-year design life. Explorer walls are rated to 5kPa when built to engineers’ specifications.
- Walls are certified at 5kPa, which means they are built to be sturdy, durable, and capable of withstanding tremendous force.
Now, with this small guide some information regarding concrete sleepers are giving to people who are not aware about what exactly concrete sleepers is. You can get in touch with the professionals or conduct more research on the internet to understand more about these sleepers. Also find manufacturers of concrete sleepers that can help you with your requirements and also offer pocket friendly deals for concrete sleepers.