Study on the electrical resistance of the sleeper-fastening elements system in railway tracks

Abstract

The electrical resistance of the sleeper-fastening elements system in a wet railway track is a very important parameter. This is because the rails are electric conductors in the circuit of signaling and traction systems. This electrical resistance, defined as a characteristic value of the sleeper-fastening elements-water system is a measurand obtained with reference measurement procedures as described in international standards. But it is subject to many kinds of undefinitions that result in a very high dispersion. In this work the dependence of this parameter on variables such as the water conductivity, the temperature and the relative humidity is shown, and several ways to reduce it to minimum values are also established.

Keywords

• electrical properties
• temperature
• railway track
• sleeper
• rail