USQ/Austrak composite transom project progresses

University of Southern Queensland has shared an update on its collaboration with rail sleeper manufacturer Austrak, with a team of engineering experts recently travelling to Adelaide to install their first composite railway transoms.

The Queensland State Government and Austrak have funded the project through an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship to USQ Chief Investigator Dr Wahid Ferdous (pictured.)

Ferdous aims to replace timber transoms – a type of railway sleeper used in bridges – with transoms incorporating fibre composites and waste-based materials.

Transoms are described as “large sleepers used on railway bridges to transfer the loads from the rails to the bridge girders.”

The fibre composites add strength and the recycled materials add sustainability, said Ferdous in a statement on Wednesday, adding that they have produced a transom with a design life of about 50 years.

“This is more than three times longer than existing timber transoms, which last around 15 years, which means we can help significantly reduce track maintenance costs,” added the project lead.

“The knowledge and experience shared between the university and project partner Austrak has played an important role in validating these new composite transoms.”

Ferdous’s team travelled to South Australia to monitor nine composite transoms installed in a part of the state’s rail track under real-life loading conditions, which were then compared to the existing timber transoms.

“We found that the deflection of the rail track with the composite transoms was within the allowable track deflection limit,” Ferdous said.

“I have conducted many tests on these composite transoms at the University’s laboratory, where I had the chance to critically evaluate their performance.

“But it’s very exciting to see the research in action when it’s translated into a commercial product.”

Ferdous added that a future goal for the team was to optimise cost and performance to make the product more competitive, anticipating eventual leadership in the local composite transom market and potential international interest. 

Further reading

Fibres and composites transforming industry: Advanced pultrusion for a modern industry

Composites competence: Australian leader says it’s about strategy not rivalry