In terms of overall performance and durability, metal sleepers outperform wooden sleepers regarding________________?
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Answer: B. life
Explanation
Metal sleepers (steel or cast iron) have a significantly longer service life compared to traditional timber wooden sleepers. Metal construction resists environmental decay, fungal rot, and termite attacks that typically degrade organic wooden materials. Durability under aggressive weather conditions allows metal sleepers to remain structurally sound for decades of heavy service. Railway sleepers distribute heavy rail loads downward into the ballast bed while maintaining exact track gauge and alignment. Wooden sleepers have historically been popular due to natural elasticity, but they suffer from relatively rapid biological degradation. Modern steel trough and concrete sleepers have largely replaced timber to conserve natural forests and extend maintenance intervals.
Wooden sleepers often have lower initial procurement costs, meaning metal sleepers do not outperform them regarding economy. Timber sleepers naturally provide electrical insulation, whereas metal sleepers require special insulating pads for track circuiting. Fastening performance varies by design, but longevity remains the primary structural advantage of metal over wood.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Civil Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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