Explain the necessity of sleepers in railway track. Using sleeper density of M+6, estimate the quantity of track material required for constructing a B.G. railway track that is 6km long, if the length of the rail is 13m.

Mumbai University > Civil Engineering > Sem 5 > Transportation Engineering 1

Marks: 10M

Year: Dec 2014

Sleepers:

These are the members laid transversely, under the rail for supporting and fixing them at the gauge distance apart are known as sleepers.

There are three types of sleepers :

1) Wooden sleepers 2) Metal sleepers 3) Concrete sleepers

Necessity of sleepers:

1. To maintain alignment of track
2. They hold the rails to proper gauge firmly and evenly.
3. They distribute load over large area of ballast.
4. To absorb vibrations caused by train, they will act as an elastic medium between rails and ballast.
5. They not only support rails but they also helps in maintaining proper super elevation on curves.
6. They provides overall stability to the permanent way.

Given data:-

Track length = 6km

No. of sleepers =?

n = 13m

Sleeper density = M+6

To find no. of sleepers = M+6 = 13+6 = 19

Total sleepers required = 19*6 = 114

Therefore, total 114 sleepers will required for the 6 km long track.