Classification and DMA characterization of a soft under-sleeper pad made from recycled truck-tire SBR

Cezary Kraśkiewicz; Marcin Gajewski; Wojciech Bańkowski

doi:10.7409/rabdim.026.016

Received: 2026-07-11
Accepted: 2026-10-05
Published: 2026-10-16

Vol. 25 No. 3 (2026)

Classification and DMA characterization of a soft under-sleeper pad made from recycled truck-tire SBR

Cezary Kraśkiewicz

, Marcin Gajewski

, Wojciech Bańkowski

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.026.016

Abstract

The article presents the basic parameters given in the EN 16730 standard for Under Sleeper Pads (USP) used in ballasted railway tracks. Also discussed are the IRS 70713-1 recommendations of the International Union of Railways (UIC), which are based on many years of research on the application of USP in railway tracks. Further parts of the article present a detailed analysis of specimens of USP produced from recycled tire rubber (SBR crumb rubber bound with a polyurethane binder). Upon comparing the results of static and dynamic bedding modulus tests with the UIC recommendations, it was noted that the analyzed USP should be classified among soft USP types – which are used for the reduction of ground-borne noise and vibrations affecting structures in the vicinity of the track. Going beyond the requirements of the EN 16730 standard, additional laboratory tests of viscoelastic properties were performed using a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) device, focusing on the vibration damping potential of elastomeric materials. The determined characteristics included characteristic temperatures in complex stiffness modulus tests, the master curve of complex stiffness modulus, and dissipation properties as a function of temperature. The paper classifies a documented recycled-SBR under-sleeper pad against EN 16730 and IRS 70713-1 and reports complementary DMA measurements (characteristic temperatures, a 20°C master curve of the complex modulus, and cyclic dissipation) that are not required by the standard. The aim is to provide material-level input for the soft-USP class, not to propose a new mix design.

Keywords:

ballasted railway track, recycled tire rubber, Under Sleeper Pads (USP), vibroacoustic isolators, viscoelasticity

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Beata Gajewska, Marcin Gajewski, Cezary Kraszewski, Leszek Rafalski, Investigations of resilient moduli of selected hydraulically bound mixtures (HBM) under cyclic load , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 11 No. 4 (2012)
Nicola Baldo, Fabio Rondinella, Fabiola Daneluz, Pavla Vacková, Jan Valentin, Marcin Gajewski, Jan Król, Mechanical performance prediction of asphalt mixtures: a baseline study of linear and non-linear regression compared with neural network modeling , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 24 No. 1 (2025)
Mirosław Graczyk, Marcin Gajewski, Radosław Szczerba, Structural analysis of airfield concrete pavement with doweled joints taking into account curling of slabs , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 15 No. 2 (2016)
Marcin Gajewski, Renata Horodecka, Rheological properties of road bitumens modified by natural asphalt , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 17 No. 2 (2018)
Beata Gajewska, Marcin Gajewski, Cezary Kraszewski, Analysis of a flexible road pavement on a subgrade with an inclusion in the form of a pipeline running along the road axis , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 17 No. 4 (2018)
Karolina Pełczyńska, Marcin Gajewski, Review of selected fatigue criteria for hydraulic bound layers in road pavements , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 17 No. 3 (2018)
Wojciech Bańkowski, Renata Horodecka, Marcin Gajewski, Krzysztof Mirski, The extended assessment of warm mix asphalts durability , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 15 No. 2 (2016)
Wojciech Bańkowski, Analysis of fatigue life of asphalt concretes considering different types of mixtures and binders , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 17 No. 4 (2018)
Bohdan Dołżycki, Mariusz Jaczewski, Cezary Szydłowski, Wojciech Bańkowski, Marcin D. Gajewski, Analysis of selected mechanical properties of mineral-cement-emulsion mixtures (MCE) , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 22 No. 1 (2023)
Marcin Gajewski, Comparison of rheological properties of chosen elastomers used in production of bridge bearings , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 16 No. 1 (2017)

1 2 > >>

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Kraśkiewicz, C., Gajewski, M., & Bańkowski, W. (2026). Classification and DMA characterization of a soft under-sleeper pad made from recycled truck-tire SBR. Roads and Bridges – Drogi I Mosty, 25(3), 247–266. https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.026.016

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Schilder R.: USP (under sleeper pads) - A contribution to save money in track maintenance. Proceedings of AusRAIL PLUS 2013, Sydney, Australia, 26-28 November 2013, https://1library.net/document/y8mmggwz-usp-sleeper-pads-contribution-save-money-track-maintenance.html (available: 05.10.26)
Google Scholar

Neuhold J., Landgraf M.: Effects of under-sleeper pads on long-term track quality behaviour. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Road and Rail Infrastructure (CETRA) 2018, Zadar, Croatia, 17-19 May 2018, 675-682, DOI: 10.5592/CO/CETRA.2018.885
Google Scholar

Jayasuriya C., Indraratna B., Nimbalkar S.: Analysis of the performance of under sleeper pads - a critical review. Proceedings of the International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering (ICGE 2015), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 10-11 August 2015, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), https://www.issmge.org/uploads/publications/23/24/ICGE-15-TI-04-Jayasuriya.pdf (available: 05.10.26)
Google Scholar

Li H., McDowell G.R.: Discrete element modelling of under sleeper pads using a box test. Granular Matter, 20, 2, 2018, Article ID: 26, DOI: 10.1007/s10035-018-0795-0
Google Scholar

Gräbe P.J., Mtshotana B.F., Sebati M.M., Thünemann E.Q.: The effects of under-sleeper pads on sleeper-ballast interaction. Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering, 58, 2, 2016, 35-41, DOI: 10.17159/2309-8775/2016/v58n2a4
Google Scholar

Jayasuriya C., Indraratna B., Ngo T.N.: Experimental study to examine the role of under sleeper pads for improved performance of ballast under cyclic loading. Transportation Geotechnics, 19, 2019, 61-73, DOI: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2019.01.005
Google Scholar

Navaratnarajah S.K., Indraratna B.: Application of under sleeper pads to enhance the sleeper-ballast interface behaviors. Construction in Geotechnical Engineering: Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC) 2018. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 84, 2020, 619-636, Springer, Singapore, DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-6090-3_46
Google Scholar

Ngamkhanong C., Goto K., Kaewunruen S.: Sensitivity of dynamic responses of railway prestressed concrete sleepers with under sleeper pads to impact energy. Proceedings of the International Conference on Noise and Vibration Engineering (ISMA 2018), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, 17-19 September 2018, https://past.isma-isaac.be/downloads/isma2018/proceedings/Contribution_480_proceeding_3.pdf (available: 05.10.26)
Google Scholar

Navaratnarajah S.K., Indraratna B., Ngo T.N.: Influence of under sleeper pads on ballast behavior under cyclic loading: Experimental and numerical studies. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 144, 9, 2018, Article ID: 04018068, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001954
Google Scholar

Zakeri J.A., Esmaeili M., Heydari-Noghabi H.: A field investigation into the effect of under sleeper pads on the reduction of railway-induced ground-borne vibrations. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 230, 3, 2016, Article ID: 999-1005, DOI: 10.1177/0954409714565499
Google Scholar

EN 16730:2016 Railway applications. Track. Concrete sleepers and bearers with under sleeper pads. European Standards, 2016
Google Scholar

Kraśkiewicz C., Zbiciak A., Al Sabouni-Zawadzka A.: Laboratory tests of resistance to severe environmental conditions of prototypical under sleeper pads applied in the ballasted track structures. Archives of Civil Engineering, 67, 3, 2021, 319-331, DOI: 10.24425/ace.2021.138058
Google Scholar

Kraśkiewicz C., Zbiciak A., Medyński J., Al Sabouni-Zawadzka A.: Laboratory testing of selected prototype under sleeper pads (USPs) – pull-off strength determined after the weather resistance test. Archives of Civil Engineering, 69, 2, 2023, 483-501, DOI: 10.24425/ace.2023.145280
Google Scholar

Kraśkiewicz C., Zbiciak A., Zobel H., Al Sabouni-Zawadzka A.: Laboratory tests of pull-off strength of chosen USPs attached to concrete sleepers. Archives of Civil Engineering, 69, 4, 2023, 247-262, DOI: 10.24425/ace.2023.147658
Google Scholar

IRS 70713-1, 1st ed.: Railway application – track & structure. Under sleeper pads (USP) – Recommendations for use. International Union of Railways (UIC), Paris, 2018
Google Scholar

EN 13230:2016 Railway applications. Track. Concrete sleepers and bearers. European Standards, 2016
Google Scholar

UIC: Under sleeper pads – Semelles sous traverses – Schwellenbesohlungen. Summarising Report of UIC Project No. I/05/U/440, 4th edition. International Union of Railways (UIC), Vienna, 2009
Google Scholar

Auer F., Potvin R.: USP in track. Influence of USP on the track behaviour. International Union of Railways (UIC), Paris, 2013
Google Scholar

UIC Code 713-1 (Draft Document): Recommendations for the use of under sleeper pads (USP). Version 1.4. International Union of Railways (UIC), Paris, 2016
Google Scholar

DIN 45673-6:2010-08 Mechanical vibration. Resilient elements used in railway tracks. Part 6: Laboratory test procedures for under-sleeper pads of concrete sleepers. German National Standard (DIN), 2010
Google Scholar

Öchsner A.: Classical beam theories of structural mechanics. Springer Nature, 2021, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-76035-9
Google Scholar

Hutchinson J.R.: Shear coefficients for Timoshenko beam theory. Journal of Applied Mechanics, 68, 1, 2001, 87-92, DOI: 10.1115/1.1349417
Google Scholar

Barnes H.A., Hutton J.F., Walters K.: An introduction to rheology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1989
Google Scholar

Gajewski M.: Estimation of the energy dissipation capability for chosen elastomers with application of DMA. Polymer Testing, 68, 2018, 405-414, DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2018.04.037
Google Scholar

Kim Y.R.: Modeling of asphalt concrete. McGraw-Hill Construction, New York, 2009
Google Scholar

Gajewski M.: Badania lepiszczy asfaltowych w reometrze dynamicznego ścinania – relacje konstytutywne lepko-sprężystości, hipersprężystości i lepkohipersprężystości. Prace Naukowe Politechniki Warszawskiej, Budownictwo, z. 160., Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Warszawskiej, Warszawa, 2018 (in Polish)
Google Scholar

Stollwitzer A., Bettinelli L., Loidl S., Fink J.: Acceleration-dependent lateral track resistance for the condition assessment of railway bridges with ballasted track. Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty, 24, 1, 2025, 37-45, DOI: 10.7409/rabdim.025.002
Google Scholar

Classification and DMA characterization of a soft under-sleeper pad made from recycled truck-tire SBR

Abstract

Keywords:

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Downloads

Cezary Kraśkiewicz

Marcin Gajewski

Wojciech Bańkowski