Intelligent Automation, Inc. — Department of Transportation SBIR Phase I: 171FR1

Description

The service life of the wood ties has been diminishing with increased axle loads with higher rail car speeds and frequencies. The depletion of wood and creosote induced contamination are of great environmental concerns. It is of a substantial interest to develop an effective recycling/remanufacturing methodology for creosote-treated wood ties. A composite wood tie design is proposed here, with used/new wood tie as a core and encasing it with Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP). It is expected that by applying this technique the strength and stiffness of wood ties can be restored/enhanced, and their service life against adverse environmental conditions will be elongated. In Phase I, comprehensive numerical modeling will be performed to optimize BFRP reinforced wood tie designs, and lab experiments will be carried out based on industrial standards to demonstrate the feasibility of the product. The proposed design and manufacturing process will be further improved and field tested in Phase II of the program.