Mechanical behaviors of the U-girder for urban maglev transit under temperature loads and train loads

Abstract

The U-girder has been applied to the China’s Fenghuang Maglev Sightseeing Express for the first time around the world, but mechanical behaviors of the U-girder under different loading conditions have not been investigated comprehensively. Firstly, an elaborate finite element (FE) model of the 25 m U-girder considering the longitudinal prestressing tendons and the detailed track structure is built in the paper, and then an in-situ modal test is conducted to validate the FE model. Furthermore, a coupled dynamic model of maglev train-track-girder system is built by the MTS-DCSP distributed co-simulation platform. Secondly, the stress and deformation of the U-girder under the severe temperature gradient loads are analyzed carefully. The results indicate the maximum stresses always appear near the junction between the floor and the track supporting stands, but they are less than the strength of C55 grade concrete. The temperature-induced deflection on the rail can reach 2.91 mm. Thirdly, under jointly the severe temperature gradient loads and maglev train loads moving at 100 km/h, maglev train can run smoothly through the U-girder, deflection and acceleration amplitude of the U-girder are far less than the limits. However, the maximum transverse tensile stress near the junction reaches 3.0 MPa and exceeds slightly the tensile strength, it implies that the U-girder has the cracking risk of concrete.