On the railway infrastructure in Slovenia, especially in the karst terrain, we face the phenomenon of so called floating sleepers. In order to improve the situation, we are conducting a research, within the CRP project, that enables us to better understand related phenomena. This paper presents the results of research already carried out. Through field measurements and mathematical simulations, we have found that a dynamic mathematical model is required for an effective mathematical description of a phenomenon. Dynamic effects have a markedly unfavorable effect on the degradation of the track ballast, which sooner or later leads to a floating sleeper. Improving the behavior of the concrete sleeper is possible by using new modern materials (binders and fillers) with adequate quantification of the phenomenon. To this end, we have also developed an empirical model of ballast degradation, based on visual expert judgment, which can be linked to the results of the micro-Deval test with the proposed empirical expression.
COBISS.SI-ID: 22789142