Sleepers Spacing Analysis in Railway Track Infrastructure

Sleeper spacing has been a taboo subject throughout the railway’s history. Safety concerns related to structural integrity have main causes of not addressing this matter. There are no specific and clear recommendations or guidelines in relation matter distances do go more than 0.8 m. In order beyond current situation, following research paper analyses influence between sleepers on behaviour ballasted tracks by performing dynamic simulation with finite elements two dimensions for different track configurations, elements, geometries, separations within frame ODSTRACK project. The variables studied vertical displacements, forces stresses most important superstructure, as well accelerations train. values obtained from numerical simulations were compared maximum permitted according guidelines. To limit distance restrictive variable among those analysed, it is necessary make assumptions, such permissible effective support contact areas ballast. preliminary carried out shed light possible increment sleepers’ axes up This suggests that savings railways construction costs can be achieved, they will help develop next stage