Gusztáv Baranyai
58117599200
Publications - 10
Laboratory and Numerical Investigation of Pre-Tensioned Reinforced Concrete Railway Sleepers Combined with Plastic Fiber Reinforcement
Miklós Kuczmann
Szabolcs Fischer
I. Fekete
Zoltán Major
Richárd Nagy
Szabolcs Szalai
Mykola Sysyn
Attila Németh
Dmytro Kurhan
Majid Movahedi Rad
Sarah Khaleel Ibrahim
Dániel Harrach
Szabolcs Kocsis Szurke
Vivien Jóvér
Hanna Csótár
Gusztáv Baranyai
Bálint Molnár
Klaudia Madarász
András Pollák
Bence Hermán
László Gáspár
Publication Name: Polymers
Publication Date: 2024-06-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 11
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This research investigates the application of plastic fiber reinforcement in pre-tensioned reinforced concrete railway sleepers, conducting an in-depth examination in both experimental and computational aspects. Utilizing 3-point bending tests and the GOM ARAMIS system for Digital Image Correlation, this study meticulously evaluates the structural responses and crack development in conventional and plastic fiber-reinforced sleepers under varying bending moments. Complementing these tests, the investigation employs ABAQUS’ advanced finite element modeling to enhance the analysis, ensuring precise calibration and validation of the numerical models. This dual approach comprehensively explains the mechanical behavior differences and stresses within the examined structures. The incorporation of plastic fibers not only demonstrates a significant improvement in mechanical strength and crack resistance but paves the way for advancements in railway sleeper technology. By shedding light on the enhanced durability and performance of reinforced concrete structures, this study makes a significant contribution to civil engineering materials science, highlighting the potential for innovative material applications in the construction industry.
Open Access: Yes
Sustainable Uses of 3D Printing Applied to Concrete Structures †
Publication Name: Engineering Proceedings
Publication Date: 2024-01-01
Volume: 79
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study investigates the application of honeycomb-patterned PLA as a reinforcement in concrete structures. The research focused on identifying the optimal 3D printing layout for this reinforcement and examining how the orientation of 3D-printed PLA affects the mechanical properties of the concrete. The study compares the performance of concrete reinforced with 3D-printed PLA to both unreinforced concrete and concrete reinforced with recycled amorphous aggregate from printing waste. The results demonstrate how printing orientation influences concrete strength and the potential for using recycled PLA to enhance sustainability in construction.
Open Access: Yes
TESTING THE FRAGMENTATION OF RAILWAY BALLAST MATERIAL BY LABORATORY METHODS USING PROCTOR COMPACTOR
Publication Name: Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu
Publication Date: 2024-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: 1
Page Range: 58-68
Description:
The physical classification of crushed stone and gravel used in railway construction is based on their strength and endurance and is performed by a laboratory test method using a rotating drum or a mortar method. The values of fracture resistance calculated using the Los Angeles method and abrasion calculated using the Micro-Deval method show a corresponding correlation and require further investigation. Purpose. The development of a new method for measuring rock material fracture that is consistent with widely used standards while also being more comparable to real-world railway operating conditions. Certainly, both standard tests are essential for ensuring product homogeneity during production, so the new recommended method is only a supplement. Methodology. The Proctor device was used to induce so-called shock loads from above, similar to railway loading conditions. Unlike the standard method, the andesite material was placed in a standard cylinder in these tests. The samples were pre-screened and sorted; the specified weight was approximately 1,300 g, and the specified sizes of the individual particles were 6.3, 8.0 and 11.2 mm. Only prewashed and dried materials of NZ (fine crushed stone) or KZ (special crushed stone) from four different quarries (Tállya, Szob, Nógrádkövesd, Recsk) with different rock physics characteristics were considered. The Proctor compactor machine was used because of its calculable labor (19.86 J/impact) and the crushing effect of the calculable impacts (64, 128, 256 and 1,028 blows). Even after loading different numbers of impacts, homogeneous samples from different quarries were sieved to measure the masses of fragments per fraction. Findings. The set of measurements made it possible to establish a series of fragmentation and degradation curves for each of the three repeated measurements based on the composition of the material and the number of blows, which showed the degradation of samples with different physical and mechanical properties of the rock material and particle sizes. With an increasing number of impacts, the amount of crushed material in the sample increased, but the distribution of crushed material did not decrease evenly and proportionally as the number of impacts increased. Parameters and indices were also computed to identify various correlations (i. e., FV , d < 22.4, d < 0.5, d < 0.063 mm, CU , M ratio, λ ratio). Some of them (e. g., FV ) needed to be changed, but they were predefined due to the nature of the tests. Originality. While many standard and alternative railway track ballast fragmentation test methods and measurement tools are available, this paper proposes a new laboratory method and demonstrates the specific measurement and application effectiveness. Practical value. In addition to standard tests that are already widely used, the new method for measuring the fractional composition of railway ballast can help simulate real-world operating conditions of a railroad track in the laboratory. This method will improve the safety of railway operations.
Open Access: Yes
Numerical Investigation of Pre-Stressed Reinforced Concrete Railway Sleeper for High-Speed Application
Publication Name: Infrastructures
Publication Date: 2023-03-01
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The current paper deals with the numerical investigation of a unique designed pre-stressed reinforced concrete railway sleeper for the design speed of 300 km/h, as well as an axle load of 180 kN. The authors applied different methodologies in their research: traditional hand-made calculations and two types of finite element software. The latter were AxisVM and ABAQUS, respectively. During the calculations, the prestressing loss was not considered. The results from the three methods were compared with each other. The hand-made calculations and the finite element modeling executed by AxisVM software are adequate for determining the mechanical inner forces of the sleeper; however, ABAQUS is appropriate for consideration of enhanced and sophisticated material models, as well as the stress-state of the elements, i.e., concrete, pre-stressed tendons, etc. The authors certified the applicability of these methodologies for performing the dimensioning and design of reinforced concrete railway sleepers with pre-stressing technology. The research team would like to continue their research in an improved manner, taking into consideration real laboratory tests and validating the results from FE modeling, special material models that allow calculation of crackings and their effects in the concrete, and so that the real pattern of the crackings can be measured by GOM Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technology, etc.
Open Access: Yes
Examination of Concrete Canvas under Quasi-Realistic Loading by Computed Tomography
Publication Name: Infrastructures
Publication Date: 2023-02-01
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The current paper concerns the investigation of CC (Concrete Canvas), a unique building material from the GCCM (geosynthetic cementitious composite mat) product group. The material is suitable for trench lining, trench paving, or even military construction activities, while the authors’ purpose is to investigate the application of the material to road and railway substructure improvement. This research was carried out to verify the material’s suitability for transport infrastructure and its beneficial effects. The authors’ previous study reported that the primary measurements were puncture, compression, and the parameters evaluated in four-point bending (laboratory) tests. However, based on the results, finite element modeling was not feasible because the testing of the composite material in a single layer did not provide an accurate indication. For this reason, the material characteristics required for modeling were investigated. A unique, novel testing procedure and assembly were performed, wherein the material was loaded under quasi-realistic conditions with a crushed stone ballast sample and other continuous particle size distribution samples in a closed polyethylene tube. In addition, the deformation of the material following deformed bonding was measured by computed tomography scanning, and the results were evaluated.
Open Access: Yes
Investigation of deformations of ballasted railway track during collapse using the Digital Image Correlation Method (DICM)
Publication Name: Reports in Mechanical Engineering
Publication Date: 2022-01-01
Volume: 3
Issue: 1
Page Range: 168-191
Description:
This paper summarizes the results of laboratory tests in which the authors investigated the effects of extremely high vertical load to a railway track segment. The segment consisted of a cut concrete sleeper (contact area: 290×390 mm) with a pair of direct-elastic rail fasteners; the sleeper pieces had a standard, full height; the structure had a typical 350 mm depth railway ballast, underneath approx. 200 mm sandy gravel supplementary layer. The whole assembly was built in a 2.00×2.20 m area wooden rack. The deformations due to the approx. 150 kN static concentrated vertical force were measured and recorded by Digital Image Correlation Method (DICM), ensuring the GOM ATOS technology. The 150 kN peak load meant 1326 kPa vertical stress at the sleeper-ballast interface. The 3D geometry was scanned before the loading and after the collapse. In this way, the comparison was able to be executed. The maximum vertical deformation was 115 mm. The DICM technique is a relatively new methodology in civil engineering; however, it has been applied for more than ten years in mechanical engineering. Therefore, the authors investigated the applicability of DICM in this field. As a result, the pre and the post-states were determined in 3D. The displacement of the ballast particles was able to be defined with the possibility of drawing the displacement trajectories of given points. The DICM can be a valuable methodology in railway engineering, e.g., laboratory tests and field test applications.
Open Access: Yes
Tutorial for the Strength Design of Embedded Rack Railway Structures
Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Page Range: 109-124
Description:
Rack railways have made it possible to run trains in steep and mountainous areas, by offering better traction and stability. This paper takes a closer look at the design challenges and practical solutions involved in upgrading these systems – especially when moving from traditional fish-plated jointed tracks to continuously welded rails in embedded track configurations. The authors focused on the forces acting on the rack, how thermal expansion is handled and what happens where tracks meet bridges. Using analytical methods and Finite Element Analysis (FEM), this work examines how different loads and temperatures affect the rack’s performance, especially in tight curves and high-gradient areas. The findings highlight the importance of flexible support structures, strong anchorage, and the use of durable rail profiles like TN70. The study also underscores how small design tweaks – like adjusting geometry or material properties – can go a long way in boosting both performance and lifespan. Overall, this work contributes to building safer, longer-lasting rack railway systems, that are easier to maintain over time.
Open Access: Yes
Structural Integrity Analysis of 3D-Printed PLA- and ABS-Reinforced Concrete Underwater Curing †
Publication Name: Engineering Proceedings
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 113
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The optimization and evaluation of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) and ABS materials present a promising approach for enhancing the reinforcement of concrete elements, thereby advancing sustainable construction technologies. This study examines the degradation of the structural integrity of 3D-printed PLA- and ABS-reinforced concrete after 28 days of underwater curing. The research focuses on macroscopic analysis and microscopic characterization using a digital microscope and a high-resolution camera to investigate the crystalline structures formed during curing. The findings will offer valuable insights into the structural transformations occurring within concrete elements and potential interactions between concrete and PLA structures, paving the way for future civil engineering applications.
Open Access: Yes
Investigation of the Size Effect of Concrete Elements and Surface Optimisation to Enhance DIC Measurements
Publication Name: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 1768 LNNS
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 211-224
Description:
The mechanical performance of concrete elements is significantly influenced by specimen size, particularly in bending behaviour under load. In this study, the size effect of a specific concrete composition was examined through three-point bending tests on specimens of varying dimensions. The results revealed non-linear trends in load-bearing capacity and deformation, indicating that intermediate-sized specimens exhibited more favourable mechanical properties. Surface preparation methods were also investigated to enhance the accuracy of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) measurements using the ARAMIS system. Several factors – including paint absorption, drying time, ambient conditions, and mould materials – were evaluated to determine their impact on speckle pattern quality and system recognition. It was demonstrated that inadequate surface preparation leads to errors in DIC analysis, while optimised surface treatments significantly improve data reliability. The findings emphasise the importance of specimen scaling and standardised surface preparation protocols in experimental setups that utilise non-contact optical measurement techniques. By enhancing the precision and reliability of these experimental methods, this research facilitates the development of smarter, more adaptive infrastructure systems, thereby contributing to the broader goals of Cognitive Mobility. This approach leverages resilient materials and advanced monitoring techniques to enable safer, more efficient, and sustainable transportation solutions.
Open Access: Yes
Changes in the Properties of Thermal Insulation Materials Due to Environmental and Exposure Factors: Examination of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Thermal Insulation Mineral Boards
Publication Name: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 1768 LNNS
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 91-99
Description:
The energy performance of buildings has become increasingly important, driven by efficiency, awareness, and sustainability goals. While attention often focuses on passive or zero-emission buildings, upgrading the thermal insulation of existing stock remains essential. In Hungary, many buildings still fail to meet current standards, from 19th-century apartments in Budapest to post-war panel blocks designed without thermal considerations. This study examined mineral-based insulation boards made from autoclaved aerated concrete under controlled exposure scenarios: cold winter (−20 °C), humid spring/autumn (10 °C, 90% RH), and hot summer (70 °C, 20% RH). Standardized tests assessed mass variation, compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and short-term water absorption. Results show that high humidity caused up to 14% loss of compressive strength and a 17–18% increase in thermal conductivity after 14 days, severely reducing insulation capacity. In contrast, extreme cold and heat induced only minor changes. Moisture was identified as the most critical factor compromising both mechanical stability and energy efficiency. The findings provide reproducible evidence of environmental sensitivity and underline the importance of durability assessments in designing and retrofitting energy-efficient buildings.
Open Access: Yes
