PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLE bioresources.com Carrasco et al. (2019). “Glulam wood sleepers,” BioResources 14(3), 5059-5070. 5059 Glulam Wood Sleepers Manufacturing from Recycling Discharge Sleepers: An Engineering Recycling Project Edgar V. M. Carrasco, a, * Leonardo B. Passos, b Silvia T. A. Amorim, b Fernando M. G. Ramos, a Francisco C. Rodrigues, b and Judy N. R. Mantilla c Feasibility was studied for the manufacture of glulam sleepers using wood sleepers that had been discharged or sold at low prices by railway companies. In principle, an engineering recycling project of this nature could contribute to the reduction of non-renewable natural resource extraction. The manufacturing stages of glulam recycled wood sleepers are shown. Ultrasonic tests were used for the classification of the wood sleepers’ parts and wood strength optimization. The results showed that it was possible to obtain one wood sleeper from the recycling of four or five used sleepers. Keywords: Wood recycling; Glulam wood sleepers; Sustainability Contact information: a: School of Architecture, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil; b: Engineering school, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil; c: Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University FUMEC, Brazil; *Corresponding author: mantilla@dees.ufmg.br INTRODUCTION The sleeper is a superstructure element installed across train rails that receives and transmits vehicle load stress to the lower structural elements (Brina 1979). The sleepers partially dampen vibrations and provide support and fixation of the rails, keeping the distance between them stable, that is to maintain the gauge width. Also, these structural elements are subjected to simultaneous shear and bending stresses, and thus they are also extremely important. The demand for wood sleepers in the Brazilian railways is about 1,500,000 a year, according to the largest Brazilian railway company (Latin America Logistics, LAL). This information is for the three railroads that ALL company manages (Passos 2006). Wood was the first material to be used to construct sleepers, and 2.5 billion wooden sleepers have been installed worldwide (Ets Rothlisberger 2007). The four countries with the largest rail networks are the U.S., Russia, China, and India (CIA 2013). Brazil occupies the tenth position in this ranking and 17 th place when comparing railway densities (Icimoto 2013). The Brazilian rail network stretches over 30,402 kilometers (ANTF 2015). The wood used in Brazil for manufacturing sleepers are noble timber species such as maçaranduba (Manilkara huberi), aroeira (Astronium lecointei Ducke), and ipe (Tabebuia serratifolia) from native forests (Passos 2006; Icimoto 2013). Because of their scarcity and the environmental impacts of harvesting these species, reforestation woods have been studied, tested, and used in the manufacture of wood sleepers (Da Rocha 2003; Icimoto 2013). Da Rocha (2003) evaluated the resistance of native and reforestation timber through non-destructive testing to explore their use alternatives to hardwoods in railroad sleepers. Other materials such as concrete, steel, polymers, and composite materials are