<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD JATS (Z39.96) Journal Publishing DTD v1.4 20241031//EN"
        "https://jats.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/1.4/JATS-journalpublishing1-4.dtd">
<article  article-type="research-article"        dtd-version="1.4">
            <front>

                <journal-meta>
                                                                <journal-id>demiryolu mühendisliği</journal-id>
            <journal-title-group>
                                                                                    <journal-title>Demiryolu Mühendisliği</journal-title>
            </journal-title-group>
                            <issn pub-type="ppub">2149-1607</issn>
                                        <issn pub-type="epub">2687-2463</issn>
                                                                                            <publisher>
                    <publisher-name>Demiryolu Mühendisleri Derneği</publisher-name>
                </publisher>
                    </journal-meta>
                <article-meta>
                                        <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.47072/demiryolu.1897783</article-id>
                                                                <article-categories>
                                            <subj-group  xml:lang="en">
                                                            <subject>Transportation Engineering</subject>
                                                    </subj-group>
                                            <subj-group  xml:lang="tr">
                                                            <subject>Ulaştırma Mühendisliği</subject>
                                                    </subj-group>
                                    </article-categories>
                                                                                                                                                        <title-group>
                                                                                                                        <article-title>Rijitlik Kütle Dağılımı Geliştirilmiş Yeni Bir Travers Prototipinin Dinamik Karakterizasyonu</article-title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <trans-title-group xml:lang="en">
                                    <trans-title>Dynamic Characterization of a Novel Sleeper Prototype with Improved Stiffness Mass Distribution</trans-title>
                                </trans-title-group>
                                                                                                    </title-group>
            
                                                    <contrib-group content-type="authors">
                                                                        <contrib contrib-type="author">
                                                                    <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">
                                        https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2100-8071</contrib-id>
                                                                <name>
                                    <surname>Çeçen</surname>
                                    <given-names>Ferhat</given-names>
                                </name>
                                                                    <aff>SÜLEYMAN DEMİREL ÜNİVERSİTESİ</aff>
                                                            </contrib>
                                                    <contrib contrib-type="author">
                                                                    <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">
                                        https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9519-1362</contrib-id>
                                                                <name>
                                    <surname>Oruç</surname>
                                    <given-names>Serkan</given-names>
                                </name>
                                                                    <aff>TCDD Afyon Beton Travers Fabrika Müdürlüğü</aff>
                                                            </contrib>
                                                    <contrib contrib-type="author">
                                                                    <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">
                                        https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6221-4918</contrib-id>
                                                                <name>
                                    <surname>Saltan</surname>
                                    <given-names>Mehmet</given-names>
                                </name>
                                                                    <aff>SÜLEYMAN DEMİREL ÜNİVERSİTESİ</aff>
                                                            </contrib>
                                                    <contrib contrib-type="author">
                                                                    <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">
                                        https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3072-7983</contrib-id>
                                                                <name>
                                    <surname>Aktaş</surname>
                                    <given-names>Bekir</given-names>
                                </name>
                                                                    <aff>ERCİYES ÜNİVERSİTESİ</aff>
                                                            </contrib>
                                                    <contrib contrib-type="author">
                                                                    <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">
                                        https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5734-7131</contrib-id>
                                                                <name>
                                    <surname>Kaçaroğlu</surname>
                                    <given-names>Gizem</given-names>
                                </name>
                                                                    <aff>SÜLEYMAN DEMİREL ÜNİVERSİTESİ</aff>
                                                            </contrib>
                                                                                </contrib-group>
                        
                                        <pub-date pub-type="pub" iso-8601-date="20260503">
                    <day>05</day>
                    <month>03</month>
                    <year>2026</year>
                </pub-date>
                                                    <issue>24</issue>
                                                
                        <history>
                                    <date date-type="received" iso-8601-date="20260227">
                        <day>02</day>
                        <month>27</month>
                        <year>2026</year>
                    </date>
                                                    <date date-type="accepted" iso-8601-date="20260501">
                        <day>05</day>
                        <month>01</month>
                        <year>2026</year>
                    </date>
                            </history>
                                        <permissions>
                    <copyright-statement>Copyright © 2014, Demiryolu Mühendisliği</copyright-statement>
                    <copyright-year>2014</copyright-year>
                    <copyright-holder>Demiryolu Mühendisliği</copyright-holder>
                </permissions>
            
                                                                                                <abstract><p>Bu çalışmada, rijitlik-kütle dağılımını iyileştirmeyi amaçlayan, orta kesitte genişleyen bir profile sahip ve iki adet düşey altıgen boşluk içeren yeni bir demiryolu traversi geometrisi incelenmiştir. Referans B320 tipi travers ile yaklaşık eşit hacim sağlayacak şekilde tasarlanan O-20-230 prototipleri, aynı üç boyutlu yazdırma parametreleri kullanılarak 1:10 ölçekle üretilmiş ve birbirine yakın kütle değerleri elde edilmiştir. Deneysel modal analizlerle frekans yanıt fonksiyonları (FRF) elde edilmiş, modal parametreler Karmaşık Mod Gösterge Fonksiyonu (Complex Mode Indicator Function, CMIF) analizi ile desteklenen En Küçük Kareler Karmaşık Frekans Düzlemi (Least Squares Complex Frequency-domain, LSCF) yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Sonuçlar, O-20-230 geometrisinin temel düşey rezonans frekansını yaklaşık %37 artırdığını, modal sönümleme oranının yaklaşık %43 yükseldiğini ve orta kesitte ölçülen FRF pik genliğinin yaklaşık %45 azaldığını göstermektedir. Global ölçekte CMIF pik değerinin yaklaşık %12 azalması, iyileşmenin özellikle kritik orta kesitte yoğunlaştığını ve yapı genelinde kontrollü bir modal etkinlik azalması sağlandığını ortaya koymaktadır. Elde edilen dinamik sonuçlar mutlak saha performansını temsil eden değerler olarak değil, aynı ölçek ve malzeme koşulları altında topolojik farklılıkların göreli etkisini gösteren karşılaştırmalı göstergeler olarak değerlendirilmelidir. Bulgular, kütle ve hacim büyük ölçüde korunmasına rağmen geometrik tasarım yoluyla optimize edilen rijitlik-kütle dağılımının rezonans frekanslarını baskın uyarım bantlarından uzaklaştırma ve yapısal sönümleme verimliliğini artırma potansiyeline sahip olduğunu göstermektedir.</p></abstract>
                                                                                                                                    <trans-abstract xml:lang="en">
                            <p>In this study, a novel railway sleeper geometry featuring an expanded mid-section profile and two vertical hexagonal cavities, designed to improve stiffness-mass distribution, was investigated. The O-20-230 prototypes were designed to provide approximately the same volume as the reference B320 sleeper. These prototypes were manufactured at a 1:10 scale using identical three-dimensional printing parameters, resulting in nearly equivalent mass values. Frequency response functions (FRFs) were obtained through experimental modal analysis. Subsequently, modal parameters were identified using the Least Squares Complex Frequency-domain (LSCF) method supported by Complex Mode Indicator Function (CMIF) analysis. The results indicate that the O-20-230 geometry increases the fundamental vertical resonance frequency by approximately 37%, while the modal damping ratio increases by about 43%. Additionally, the FRF peak amplitude measured at the mid-span decreases by approximately 45%. At the global level, the approximately 12% reduction in CMIF peak value indicates that the improvement is mainly concentrated in the critical mid-span region, while a controlled reduction in overall modal activity is achieved across the structure. The obtained dynamic results should not be interpreted as absolute field performance values. Instead, they serve as comparative indicators reflecting the relative influence of topological differences under identical scale and material conditions. The findings further demonstrate that, despite largely preserved mass and volume, an optimized stiffness-mass distribution achieved through geometric design can shift resonance frequencies away from dominant excitation bands and improve structural damping efficiency.</p></trans-abstract>
                                                            
            
                                                            <kwd-group>
                                                    <kwd>Demiryolu traversi</kwd>
                                                    <kwd>  Modal analiz</kwd>
                                                    <kwd>  Üç boyutlu yazdırma</kwd>
                                                    <kwd>  Topoloji optimizasyonu</kwd>
                                            </kwd-group>
                                                        
                                                                            <kwd-group xml:lang="en">
                                                    <kwd>Railway sleeper</kwd>
                                                    <kwd>  Experimental modal analysis</kwd>
                                                    <kwd>  Additive manufacturing</kwd>
                                                    <kwd>  Topology optimization</kwd>
                                            </kwd-group>
                                                                                                        <funding-group specific-use="FundRef">
                    <award-group>
                                                    <funding-source>
                                <named-content content-type="funder_name">TÜBİTAK (1005-124M258)</named-content>
                            </funding-source>
                                                                            <award-id>1005–124M258</award-id>
                                            </award-group>
                </funding-group>
                                </article-meta>
    </front>
    <back>
                            <ref-list>
                                    <ref id="ref1">
                        <label>1</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[1]	E. Sevil, Raylı sistemlerde üstyapı elemanları. Karabük, Türkiye: Karabük Üniv. Yayınları, 2023.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref2">
                        <label>2</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[2]	H. Takai, “Japanese twenty five years experiences and standardization of synthetic sleeper,” Railway Technology Avalanche, no. 13, pp. 78-81, Jul. 2006.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref3">
                        <label>3</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[3]	W. Ferdous et al., “Composite railway sleepers - recent developments, challenges and future prospects,” Composite Structures, vol. 134, pp. 158-168, Dec. 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.08.058.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref4">
                        <label>4</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[4]	R. M. Bajracharya et al., “An overview of mechanical properties and durability of glass-fibre reinforced recycled mixed plastic waste composites,” Materials &amp; Design, vol. 62, pp. 98-112, Oct. 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2014.04.081.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref5">
                        <label>5</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[5]	F. Çeçen et al., “Dynamic evaluation of scaled 3D-printed composite railway sleepers,” Int. J. 3D Print. Technol. Digit. Ind., vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 599-611, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.46519/ij3dptdi.1762503.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref6">
                        <label>6</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[6]	Rail Journal, “Synthetic sleepers still going strong after 30 years,” Railway Journal (IRJ), Nov. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: railjournal.com/in_depth/synthetic-sleepers-still-going-strong-after-30-years/ [Accessed: 23-Jan-2026].</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref7">
                        <label>7</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[7]	O. Yazıcı, “Yeni nesil çevreci kompozit traversler,” Demiryolu Mühendisliği, no. 12, pp. 13-21, Jul. 2020, doi: 10.47072/demiryolu.687880.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref8">
                        <label>8</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[8]	J. Liu et al., “Comparative analysis of resistance characteristics of composite sleeper and concrete sleeper in ballast bed,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 300, p. 124017, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124017.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref9">
                        <label>9</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[9]	E. Ferro et al., “The influence of sleeper material characteristics on railway track behaviour: concrete vs composite sleeper,” Transportation Geotechnics, vol. 23, p. 100348, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2020.100348.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref10">
                        <label>10</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[10]	P. Yu et al., “Performance evaluation of fibre-reinforced polymer composite railway sleepers under static loading,” Engineering Failure Analysis, vol. 124, p. 105370, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2021.105370.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref11">
                        <label>11</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[11]	Sekisui Railway Technology, “FFU® synthetic wood railway sleepers,” Sekisui GmbH. [Online]. Available: https://www.sekisui.de/products%20and%20technologies/rail-technology/ffu-sleepers [Accessed: Jan. 25, 2026].</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref12">
                        <label>12</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[12]	M. A. Jabu et al., “A review of composites sleepers used in the railway structure,” Int. J. Eng. Trends Technol., vol. 72, no. 12, pp. 360-366, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V72I12P130.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref13">
                        <label>13</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[13]	Lankhorst Euronete, “Railway solutions - track sleepers,” 2026. [Online]. Available: lankhorst-ep.com/en/railway-solutions/track-sleepers [Accessed: 23-Jan-2026].</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref14">
                        <label>14</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[14]	Lankhorst Euronete, “KLP® hybrid polymer main track sleeper,” 2019. [Online]. Available: globalviewsb.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2019/KLP%C2%AE%20Hybrid%20Polymer%20Main%20Track%20Sleeper.pdf [Accessed: 24-Jan-2026].</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref15">
                        <label>15</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[15]	Linkap, “Engineered solutions,” 2026. [Online]. Available: linkap.com.au/engineered-solutions/ [Accessed: 24-Jan-2026].</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref16">
                        <label>16</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[16]	F. Çeçen et al., “Comparative modal analysis of B70 and LCR-6 type railway sleepers after repeated impact loads,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 336, p. 127563, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127563.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref17">
                        <label>17</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[17]	F. Çeçen, “Failure-oriented modal characterization of cement-based scaled railway sleeper prototypes co-cast in 3D-printed molds: a geometry-isolating approach,” Engineering Failure Analysis, vol. 182, pt. B, p. 110116, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2025.110116.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref18">
                        <label>18</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[18]	F. Çeçen, “Scaled additive manufacturing for geometry-centric nondestructive evaluation: a case study on five distinct railway sleeper models,” Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1080/10589759.2025.2599485.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref19">
                        <label>19</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[19]	Yeni Şafak, “Ankara-Sivas YHT hattı ne zaman açılacak,” Yeni Şafak, 04-Jan-2026. [Online]. Available: yenisafak.com/ekonomi/ankara-sivas-yht-hatti-ne-zaman-acilacak-4521171 [Accessed: 24-Jan-2026].</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref20">
                        <label>20</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[20]	E. S. Sadiq et al., “Optimum vibration characteristics for honeycomb sandwich panel used in aircraft structure,” Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 1463-1479, 2021.</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref21">
                        <label>21</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[21]	W. Lestari and P. Qiao, “Dynamic characteristics and effective stiffness properties of honeycomb composite sandwich structures for highway bridge applications,” Journal of Composites for Construction, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 148-160, 2006, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0268(2006)10:2(148).</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                                    <ref id="ref22">
                        <label>22</label>
                        <mixed-citation publication-type="journal">[22]	F. Çeçen et al., “Experimental modal analysis of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete specimens via modal circles, mode indication functions, and mode shape animations,” Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 137, ID 104951, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.104951</mixed-citation>
                    </ref>
                            </ref-list>
                    </back>
    </article>
