Laboratory pull-off tests for bond strength of under sleeper pads (USP)

In the present paper results of pull-off tests performed on several prototypical under sleeper pads (USP) attached to the concrete body are presented. The pads had been tested beforehand for resistance to severe environmental conditions. The USP are used in the ballasted track systems to reduce the material and acoustic vibration emitted to the railway track’s surroundings (vibration and noise) and to reduce stress in the ballast – especially in the ballast layer directly under the sleeper. The presented values of tested bond strength of the USP were compared to the requirements used by foreign railway infrastructure managers.