Effects of the dynamic wheel–rail interaction on the ground vibration generated by a moving train

Abstract

Based on Biot’s fully dynamic poroelastic theory, the dynamic responses of the poroelastic half-space soil medium due to quasi-static and dynamic loads from a moving train are investigated semi-analytically. The dynamic loads are assumed to be generated from the rail surface irregularities. The vehicle dynamics model is used to simulate the axle loads (quasi-static loads) and the dynamic loads from a moving train. The compatibility of the displacements at wheel–rail contact points couple the vehicle and the track–ground subsystem, and yield equations for the dynamic wheel–rail loads. A linearized Hertzian contact spring between the wheel and rail is introduced to calculate the dynamic loads. Using the Fourier transform, the governing equations for the poroelastic half-space are then solved in the frequency–wavenumber domain. The time domain responses are evaluated by the fast inverse Fourier transform. Numerical results show that the dynamic loads can make important contribution to dynamic response of the poroelastic half-space for different train speed, and the dynamically induced responses lie in a higher frequency range. The ground vibrations caused by the moving train can be intensified as the primary suspension stiffness of the vehicle increases.