Evaluation of fatigue performance of ballastless track slabs reinforced with basalt-FRP and steel-FRP composite bars

The objective of this research was to present a method for the mid-span deflection and crack width prediction of ballastless track slabs under fatigue loading. All nine ballastless track slabs were reinforced with steel fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite bars (SFCB), basalt FRP bars and traditional steel bars. The main parameters were the loading level and loading sequence. Three theoretical models for mid-span deflection were used and compared with the test results. The present study indicates that Lovegrove and El Din's model can predict the deflection more accurately for the SFCB slabs and traditional reinforced-concrete slabs, with the load level ranging from 0·45 to 0·6, and 0·5 to 0·6, respectively. To predict the crack width, the proposed regression equations showed satisfactory accuracy for both constant and variable fatigue loading, with the load levels ranging from 38% to 67·5% of the ultimate load.