High Strength Reduced Modulus High Performance Concrete for Prestressed Concrete Tie Applications

A High-Strength Reduced-Modulus High Performance Concrete (HSRM-HPC) has been developed and used to fabricate prestressed concrete rail ties. The novelty of the HSRM-HPC concrete material is that although it has the same or higher strength, as the concrete material currently used in the fabrication of ties (baseline), the HSRM-HPC is much more flexible. The use of the more flexible HSRM HPC in concrete ties prevents premature cracking extending, thus, the life span of the ties. The HSRM-HPC does not impact significantly the production process and cost and is a novel concept that leads to an inexpensive, technology-based modification of current practices in prestressed concrete tie technology that will improve the safety of rail service and maintenance operations. Furthermore, the proposed concept will result to significant cost savings by increasing the life span of the tie and further decrease the maintenance costs of the track.