The use of deconstructed tire rail pads in railroad tracks: Impact of pad thickness

Deconstructed end-of-life tires are an abundant waste material that can be used to manufacture rail pads. Since tire layers are deconstructed, there is no need to shred and grind them up, which has the advantage of reducing economic costs as well as environmental impacts. However, the mechanical performance of this material can be affected by various design parameters, particularly, the thickness of the rail pad. This research study assessed the impact of thickness on the mechanical performance of deconstructed tire rail pad when subjected to loads simulating the passing of trains. The objective was to produce rail pads specifically designed for railway systems of various types and demands. Accordingly, the static and dynamic response was evaluated as well as the fatigue strength of rail pads of different thicknesses. In this sense, thicker rail pads were found to be more flexible and with a greater capacity to damp loads. The results of the study showed that for high-speed railways, the most suitable rail pads were those with a thickness of 7.5–9.0 mm, whereas pads with a lesser thickness were more suitable for conventional railroad tracks.