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Three Kansas State University engineering professors recently received more than $1.2 million in federal and private grants to study the use of prestressed concrete ties in high-speed rail applications. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $899,270 for the research; the K-State Transportation Center and CXT Concrete Tie are providing the remainder.

High-speed rail service requires prestressed concrete ties because wooden ties are too flexible. To resist heavy impacts, the concrete ties use about 20 steel wires, each stressed to about 7,000 pounds.

The professors, in conjunction with a CXT engineer, will examine how to create an adequate bond between the steel wires and surrounding concrete. They’ll also study the mixtures of concrete, wires and indents that will help provide better bonding. In addition, the team will develop a test that prestressed concrete producers can use to determine the bond capacity of specific types of wires.

Once the studies are complete, team members will conduct a research test at CXT’s prestressed concrete tie plant in Tucson, Ariz. The team then will make recommendations to the FRA regarding the appropriate methods to ensure good-bonding reinforcing steel, the best concrete to use and other requirements for creating durable prestressed concrete ties.

The study is expected to be completed in two-and-a-half years.