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  1. Hardwood press-lam crossties : processing and performance

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    Author(s): J.L. Tschernitz; E.L. Schaffer; R.C. Moody; R.W. Jokerst; D.S. Gromala; C.C. Peters; W.T. Henry
    Date: 1979
    Source: Res. Paper FPL-313. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory: 22 pages.
    Publication Series: Research Paper (RP)
    Station: Forest Products Laboratory
    PDF: View PDF  (1.2 MB)

    Description

    Crossties were made by the Press-Lam process, in which logs are peeled into veneers, dried, and glued into billets in a continuous procedure. Billets were made from 8.5-foot-long veneers and from 4-foot-long veneers, cut into final product dimensions, and treated with preservative. In laboratory tests, bending strength and stiffness of the Press-Lam ties were found to exceed those of solid- sawn red oak crossties; shear strength was only adequate. Tie wear tests showed low surface wear for laminated ties, comparable to the performance of solid specimens. Results of spike driving tests, however, indicated problems in some species. All Press-Lam ties met the performance criteria in the cyclic delamination tests, and, in lateral resistance tests, Press- Lam ties were not significantly different from solid-sawn ties. Volume yields are discussed and cost estimates are provided for use in calculating total tie costs for specific cases.

    Publication Notes

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    • This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

    Citation

    Tschernitz, J.L.; Schaffer, E.L.; Moody, R.C.; Jokerst, R.W.; Gromala, D.S.; Peters, C.C.; Henry, W.T. 1979. Hardwood press-lam crossties : processing and performance. Res. Paper FPL-313. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory: 22 pages.

    Keywords

    Shear strength, wear, bending strength, stiffness, processing, economics, preservative treatment, railroad ties, intrack performance, laminated wood, railroads

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