Comparison of performance of concrete and steel sleepers using experimental and discrete element methods

•Concrete and steel railway sleepers were tested.•Experimental and Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) approaches were used.•Experimental tests comprise box test and large scale railway tests.•Realistic and idealised DEM models were used.•Both approaches showed consistent results.

Experimental and numerical discrete element analyses have been performed to investigate trackbed behaviour for concrete mono-block and steel sleepers. For the laboratory and numerical approaches considered, ballast settlement as well as ballast-subgrade interface pressure is measured. Consideration is also given to the steel sleeper installation process by the comparison of a statically driven steel sleeper to a “wished-in-place” configuration.