In this study, allowable wheel loads for prestressed concrete sleepers standardized by Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) were calculated. The results revealed that the difference between the allowable wheel loads calculated using FEM and those calculated using the conventional method based on the load distribution coefficient was less than or equal to 5%. Relaxing the limit value of the edge tensile stress intensity of concrete based on the actual conditions increased the allowable wheel loads by 35%. Moreover, the influence of the rail type, ballast depth and ground deformation coefficient were around 10%.

prestressed concrete sleeper, design, dynamic analysis, load distribution, bending tensile strength,