Mechanical properties of steel ber-reinforced concrete slab tracks on non-ballasted foundations

Mechanical properties of slab tracks on a foundation with nonlinear stiness are accounted for. At rst, the cracking stages were inspected in FEM models, and it was learned that slab tracks have one-way exural behavior. Secondly, experimental full-scale models were made, and the accuracy of analyses was veried by comparing the FEM loadde ection curves with those of previous studies and validating the cracking and ultimate loads with those obtained from experiments. Finally, the eects of several parameters on the cracking and ultimate loads and the energy absorption of steel ber-reinforced slab tracks were investigated by examining the real behavior of slab tracks on elastic foundations before and after cracking. Steel bers increased the compressive and exural strengths as well as ductility and energy absorption. The 2.5 m width was the optimal width and the fracture pattern changed at this width. Finally, based on the obtained fracture loads, design curves were plotted for AASHTOʹs factored loads.