TRACK-STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS OF BALLASTLESS TRACK ON VIADUCTS

Where a ballastless trackform sits on a viaduct, movement and rotation of the relatively flexible supporting structure can impact significantly on the trackform design. There is pressure from the viaduct designer for the most cost effective structure, which usually means long, slender, continuous spans, and often conflicting pressure from the permanent way designer to use continuously welded rail and eliminate the need for rail expansion switches. The design of the viaduct/trackform interface requires extensive interaction between the viaduct designer and the trackform designer. In addition to meeting the requirements of appropriate structural design standards and codes of practice, the combined structure and trackform design must produce a system that meets all required safety, reliability and passenger comfort criteria. The paper identifies the impact on the trackform of longitudinal movements, vertical deflections and rotations of the viaduct, both reversible effects due to temperature, wind and railway live loads and irreversible effects due to dead loads, settlement, creep and shrinkage. Stresses in the rail due to these effects, temperature changes and forces from rail vehicles, together with the consequences of rail fracture are examined. Consideration is given to the transfer of loads between viaduct and trackform for different types of ballastless trackforms and different structural arrangements. Passenger comfort issues resulting from the dynamic effects of vehicle/viaduct interactions in respect of the span passing frequency and the natural frequencies of the system are also addressed. The development of two designs of ballastless trackforms on viaducts for the Kowloon-Canton Railway in Hong Kong, one effectively fixed to the viaduct and one supported on resilient rubber bearings, is used to illustrate the issues. For the covering abstract see ITRD E123713.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0947644458
• Corporate Authors:

  ENGINEERING TECHNICS PRESS

  46 CLUNY GARDENS
  EDINBURGH,   United Kingdom  EH10 6BN
• Authors:
  • BEALE, M J
• Publication Date: 2001

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 10 p.
• Serial:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RAILWAY ENGINEERING 2001, HELD LONDON, UK, 30 APRIL - 1 MAY 2001 - CDROM
  • Publisher: ENGINEERING TECHNICS PRESS

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge bearings; Bridge decks; Bridges; Comfort; Conferences; Design; Railroad tracks; Rubber
• Geographic Terms: Hong Kong (China)
• ITRD Terms: 3415: Bearing (bridge); 3455: Bridge; 3482: Bridge deck; 9138: Comfort; 8525: Conference; 9011: Design (overall design); 8131: Hong Kong; 1062: Railway track; 7494: Rubber
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00985514
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-947644-45-8
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Feb 4 2005 12:00AM