This paper proposes an approach to arranging curvilinear sections of the railroad track, which involves the replacement of two transitional ones and a circular curve with one curvilinear section. Modeling this section implies the construction of a curve in the plan and profile, the joint consideration of which forms the spatial appearance of the curve, which ensures a smooth transition between the rectilinear rails. The need for such transitions is due to the terrain, the need to bypass settlements, and the presence of geological, geographical, and other obstacles that occur when laying railroads. A curvilinear section is modeled in the plan using a curve that is represented in natural parameterization under the law of curvature distribution in the form of a fifth-power polynomial. At the same time, at the start and end points of the section, the curvature and its derivative accept zero values. The outer rail elevation retraction (modeling in the profile) is performed using the curve built, whose sections are also represented in natural parameterization with the dependences of the curvature distribution on the arc length in the form of fourth-power polynomials. At the docking point of the sections, the third order of smoothness is ensured, which implies the equality of values of the functions, their derivatives, the curvature, and a derivative of the curvature from the length of its natural arc. Measures have been proposed to ensure the predefined track gauge retraction. The application of the proposed approach to model a railroad track along the curvilinear section with a variable-radius curve could make it possible to achieve a favorable curvature distribution, a smooth elevation retraction of the outer rail and the track gauge. That would consequently improve the safety of rolling stock running along the curvilinear section of the track, reduce the lateral and vertical efforts that predetermine the wear of rails and wheelsets.
Read full abstract