Rail structure interaction: an essential methodology for improving bridge safety and passenger comfort

Rail-Structure Interaction (RSI) has gained attention within the rail industry due to some significant failures and poor service performance of structures around the world. In short, RSI arises due to the variation in deformation between the rails and structure under transient traffic loading and thermal effects; the differences become more significant as the structure length or span length increases with varying rail arrangements. Undertaking detailed RSI analyses has become an internationally accepted practice for railway bridge design. However, the current Australian Bridge Design Standard, AS5100:2017, arguably does not explicitly state sufficient design requirements for a railway bridge design to address RSI effects. This paper defines RSI, reviews and contrasts RSI bridge design requirements from the Australian Standards and international standards and guidelines, demonstrates the importance of a detailed RSI analysis by way of a case study, and puts forward recommendations to improve Australian bridge design requirements for RSI.

Media Info

  • Pagination: 14p. ; PDF
  • Monograph Title: Collaborating to master complexity: CORE 2021: conference on railway excellence, 21-23 June 2021, Perth, WA, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01838309
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: ARRB Group Limited
  • Files: ATRI
  • Created Date: Mar 9 2022 2:21PM