AN ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF CONCRETE CROSS TIE AND FASTENER LOADS

This report has been prepared as part of the Improved Track Structures Research Program sponsored by the Office of Rail Safety Research of the Federal Railroad Administration. The report covers a review and evaluation of track analysis models for predicting tie and fastener loads. The principal track analysis model selected includes the effects of tie bending, ballast depth, and ballast and subgrade elastic properties in a unified manner. The report also includes a statistical description of track loads measured for revenue traffic operating on three sections of concrete tie track on the Florida East Coast Railway. Measured tie loads are compared to maximum design loads used in current specifications for concrete ties and fasteners.