Failure-oriented modal characterization of cement-based scaled railway sleeper prototypes co-cast in 3D-printed molds: a geometry-isolating approach
Engineering Failure Analysis, cilt.182, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 182
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2025.110116
- Dergi Adı: Engineering Failure Analysis
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Experimental modal analysis, Failure-oriented modal behavior, Indirect additive manufacturing, Railway sleeper dynamics, Scaled cement-based prototypes
- Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study presents a failure-oriented modal characterization of four geometrically distinct railway sleeper types (B58, B70, B07, B320) using scaled cement-based prototypes cast in 3D-printed PLA molds. By integrating indirect additive manufacturing with high-resolution experimental modal analysis, the research isolates geometric influences on vibrational behavior—separating them from material and curing variability. The 1:10 scale specimens consistently exhibited distinct modal responses across vertical, lateral, and longitudinal axes. Critical parameters such as CMIF peak amplitude, resonance frequency, and damping ratio varied in non-intuitive ways, challenging the assumption that size or inertia alone governs dynamic performance. Notably, the B70 sleeper—despite its higher mass—exhibited poor lateral damping and amplified CMIF response, indicating susceptibility to resonance under service loads. In contrast, the B320 sleeper demonstrated superior lateral performance due to higher inertia and damping, while the B58 achieved favorable response despite its shorter length and lower mass. These findings highlight complex modal vulnerabilities driven by geometry-dependent factors, including modal mass distribution and localized strain energy. The proposed scaled testing approach provides a reproducible and cost-effective framework to identify failure-prone modal characteristics in existing designs. It also offers practical insights into sleeper geometries most at risk of fatigue, resonance amplification, or reduced service life under dynamic loading. By mapping failure-oriented dynamic behaviors at scale, the methodology supports future efforts in vibration-informed sleeper optimization and geometry-based risk mitigation, with broader applications in structural and railway engineering.