Analytical modelling of rail track to account for nonlinear properties of structure

Abstract

It is known that nonlinear and stochastic properties of structures should be taken into account in the analysis of their dynamic behaviour. This statement remains valid for railway infrastructure, where trains acting on rail track cause their strong dynamic variations. It becomes even more important when one deals with high frequencies and speeds of trains. The recent HSR networks need new technologies and materials in order to increase train speeds and, in the same time, to protect the environment against negative factors produced by operational lines. Therefore all important aspects of new railway constructions should be analysed, especially in terms of mechanical vibrations and noise attenuation. The elements of rail tracks, such as sleepers, under sleeper pads, rail dampers, fastening systems and others, have nonlinear properties. Their influence on dynamic behaviour of railway tracks is still insufficiently researched. For this purpose, various analytical models are proposed which can give a new insight into detailed dynamic characteristics of such structures.