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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

New Test to Determine the Bond Quality of Reinforcements for Concrete Railroad Ties

Document Series:
Research Results
Author:
  • Federal Railroad Administration
Report Number
RR 21-10
Office
RDI-21
Subject:
Track
Keywords:
Concrete railroad ties, bond, ASTM A1096, pullout test, transfer length, transmission length, prestressed concrete, indented wire
Document
KSU Un-Tensioned Pullouts-A.pdf (729.1 KB)

This report summarizes the development of an un-tensioned pullout test to quantify the bond quality of prestressing wires used in the manufacture of pretensioned concrete railroad ties. Bond quality will vary considerably based on the characteristics of the wire indents. This research successfully developed a practical and efficient un-tensioned pullout test to determine the bond quality of steel reinforcement wires. The test produces results that strongly correlate with transfer lengths in pretensioned concrete members. ASTM International has formally adopted the test as ASTM A1096 and it is now also recognized in Section 4.2.4.3 of the 2021 AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering.


Last updated: Tuesday, May 11, 2021