Sleeper Looseness of Bi-Block Ballastless Track on Wheel-Track System Dynamic

The bi-block ballastless track originated from the Rheda 2000 system has been widely used in high-speed railways in China. After three years of field investigation, it is determined that track slab cracking is a major problem of bi-block ballastless system. Particularly, cracking around sleepers can develop rapidly resulting in loosened sleepers, which directly affect the integrity of track and the safety of vehicle. In this paper, based on extensive survey of sleeper looseness of bi-block ballastless track, the cause and the development of sleeper looseness are investigated. A finite element model (FEM) is established for vehicle, bi-block ballastless track, and subgrade dynamic coupling system. The influences of vehicle travelling speed, height of sleeper hanging and number of loose sleepers on the simulated dynamic characteristics for track structure and vehicle ride comfort and safety are analyzed. In addition, field testing is performed to monitor the dynamic characteristics of track structure before and after sleeper looseness is repaired. Comparing the FEM simulated results with field monitoring data, it is concluded that the FEM based model can be utilized to analyze the sleeper looseness of bi-block ballastless track with satisfactory results

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AR050 Railroad Track Structure System Design. Alternate title: Impact of Sleeper Looseness of Bi-Block Ballastless Track on Wheel-Track System Dynamics
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Yang, Rongshan
  • Ren, Juanjuan
  • Liu, Xueyi
  • Li, Qiang
  • Wang, Kelvin C P
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 22p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ballastless track; Concrete slab track; Cracking; Field studies; Finite element method; High speed rail; Maintenance of way; Railroad ties; Rolling contact
• Geographic Terms: China
• Subject Areas: Design; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01519552
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-4403
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 26 2014 10:07AM