Analysis of Behaviour of Steel Sleepers on a Railway Bridge with Member Deck

Abstract The article presents the results of experimental and numerical analyses of the behaviour of steel bridge sleepers on the steel railway bridge with member deck at km 5.230 of the A2 track in the Žilina – Teplička, marshalling yard section. The results of in-situ measurements during static and dynamic proof-load tests are presented, which are confronted with the outputs of numerical analyses using a computational model of the bridge superstructure created in the SCIA Engineer software. The stringers of the member deck directly supporting the sleepers were also investigated. Experimental analysis revealed significantly higher dynamic effects of the traffic test load on the stringers compared to the expected theoretical dynamic effects given by the standard regulations. On the contrary, in the case of steel sleepers, the experimentally determined dynamic effects of the traffic test load were very low. The results of the analyses pointed out the need to pay increased attention to the correct seating of the steel sleepers on the support strip to avoid unfavourable effects due to eccentric support of the sleepers. Another recommendation for the using steel sleepers presented in conclusion is to pay increased attention to the bridge deck members during regular inspections regarding the possible occurrence of fatigue damage due to their higher dynamic response on actual traffic load.