Abstract
By nature, ballast interacts with railway concrete sleepers in order to provide bearing support to track system. Most train-track dynamic models do not consider the degradation of ballast over time. In fact, the ballast degradation causes differential settlement and impact forces acting on partial and unsupported tracks. Furthermore, localised ballast breakages underneath railseat increase the likelihood of centrebound cracks in concrete sleepers due to the unbalanced support under sleepers. This paper presents a dynamic finite element model of a standard-gauge concrete sleeper in a track system, taking into account the tensionless nature of ballast support. The finite element model was calibrated using static and dynamic responses in the past. In this paper, the effects of centre-bound ballast support on the impact behaviours of sleepers are highlighted. In addition, it is the first to demonstrate the dynamic effects of sleeper length on the dynamic design deficiency in concrete sleepers. The outcome of this study will benefit the rail maintenance criteria of track resurfacing in order to restore ballast profile and appropriate sleeper/ballast interaction.
Highlights
Railway sleepers are fundamental elements of railway track structures
The dynamic influences of the variation of ballast support conditions at mid span of the sleeper together with the sleeper length on the bending of the railway sleeper were evaluated in comparison with the static analysis
Under static and dynamic conditions for supported sleepers, the numerical results exhibit that the bending moment resultants are affected by the ballast stiffness variation
Summary
Railway sleepers ( called ‘railroad tie’ in North America) are fundamental elements of railway track structures. This paper presents a dynamic finite element model of a standard-gauge concrete sleeper in a track system, taking into account the tensionless nature of ballast support. This paper presents a dynamic railway concrete sleeper modelling capable of impact analysis into the effect of ballast conditions on the dynamic negative flexural responses of railway sleepers.
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