Abstract
In a fixed-end arch railway bridge restraining the displacement and rotation at the support to constrain the longitudinal deformation of the superstructure, vertical deformation occurs according to temperature change. Due to such deformation, periodic change in long-wavelength track irregularity occurs, which, by increasing the vertical train body acceleration, degrades ride comfort. In the present study, the vertical deformation of a fixed-end arch railway bridge and the accompanying track irregularity changes were measured during the summer and winter, respectively. Based on the measured data, the relationships among the ambient temperature, the temperature of the bridge members, the deformation of the bridge, and the track irregularity were investigated. Additionally, the correlation between the train body acceleration and the long-wavelength track irregularity was examined, and a method of controlling long-wavelength track irregularity considering seasonal temperature change was discussed.
Highlights
Since the dynamic behavior of a train traveling on a railway bridge is sensitive to changes in track geometry due to bridge deformation, there are strict restrictions on deformation amplitude [1,2]
The present study aimed to evaluate the correlations among the vertical deformation of fixed-end arch bridge, long-wavelength vertical track irregularity and vehicle vibrations, and to propose a management strategy for track irregularity change in an appropriate range
It can be seen that the annual variation patterns of the ambient temperature and member temperature are close to each other, but that the member temperature is slightly higher than the ambient temperature
Summary
Since the dynamic behavior of a train traveling on a railway bridge is sensitive to changes in track geometry due to bridge deformation, there are strict restrictions on deformation amplitude [1,2]. It is necessary to restrain excessive longitudinal deformation and/or to install rail expansion joints or special fastening devices [2,3]. For this reason, the fixed-end arch design is often chosen for long-span railway bridges, as this type effectively controls longitudinal deformation of the superstructure by restraining deformation and rotation at the supports. The restraints at the supports cause vertical displacement of the arch due to temperature change, causing track-geometrical errors (which is often referred to as “track irregularities”), increasing train vibration, and degrading ride comfort thereby. The geometry of which can be periodically adjusted through ballast tamping and track lifting, in the case of slab track, the rail is fixed to slabs that are integrated with the bridge superstructure, which design renders periodic track-geometrical changes very difficult to deal with
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