Resilient under sleeper pads (USPs) are vibration isolators used in the ballasted track structure to improve the dynamic performance of the track, reduce vibrations and protect the ballast layer. Being permanently connected with the rail supports (sleepers or turnout bearers), the pads must exhibit a proper value of the pull-off strength, which ensures that they do not separate from the supports while being transported to the construction site or during many years of exploitation. This study focuses on the experimental determination of the pull-off strength of USPs attached to full scale prestressed concrete sleepers. Three variants are tested: two pads equipped with different anchor layers attached to the sleepers in the production plant and one pad glued to the sleeper in the laboratory. Some of the tested USPs are made of recycled styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). An important part of the work is specification of the requirements for the pull-off strength of USPs, as well as the requirements for sleepers and turnout bearers equipped with resilient pads.

Under sleeper pads (USPs) are resilient elements used in the ballasted track structures to improve dynamic behaviour of the track, reduce vibration and protect the ballast against fast degradation. As the elements permanently connected to the sleepers or turnout bearers, the pads must have an appropriate level of pull-off strength, so that they do not separate from the rail support (here: sleeper) during their transportation to the construction site or during many years of operation. In this paper, results of pull-off tests performed on four selected USP samples are presented: three samples made of SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) granulate and one made of polyurethane. Moreover, details of the pad’s attachment to the rail support are discussed, and the requirements for the USP properties are specified, focusing on the pull-off strength determined after the weather resistance test. It is shown that only two out of four considered USP samples fulfilled the requirements specified by the authors.