RAILROAD TRACK STRUCTURE PERFORMANCE UNDER WHEEL IMPACT LOADING

Increased use of high-productivity railcars of 100- and 125-ton capacity has pushed current track structure designs to the limit. A number of heavy-haul railroads have turned to concrete-tie track to resist the extreme load environment. Two important factors must be addressed in the use of concrete-tie track. First, the higher axle loads result in a tighter "load tolerance" that requires closer control of wheel- or rail-induced impact loading. Second, the dynamic response of concrete ties and fastener systems to impact loading is quite different from that of traditional wood-tie track. In this paper, results of recent studies of concrete-tie track structural dynamics are discussed in the context of wheel and rail impact loading. These studies include a correlation between the experiments at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing and revenue traffic load environments, an investigation of Northeast Corridor concrete-tie cracking problems, and recent work on extreme-value wheel loads due to freight car wheel profile geometries. The need for dynamic systems analysis in the design of track structures is emphasized by examples of tie, fastener, and insert response to impact loading.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1131/1131-009.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=RAILROAD+TRACK+STRUCTURE+PERFORMANCE+UNDER+WHEEL+IMPACT+LOADING&author=H.+Harrison&author=D.+Ahlbeck&publication_year=1987
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309045150
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Railroad Track Structure System Design. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Harrison, Harold D
  • Ahlbeck, Donald R
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 81-88
• Monograph Title: Performance of aggregates in railroads and other track performance issues
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1131
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Design; Dynamic loads; Engineering tolerance; Fasteners; Impact loads; Performance; Railroad ties; Railroad tracks; Structural analysis; Structural mechanics; Systems analysis; Wheel loads
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic response; Structural behavior
• Old TRIS Terms: Impact loading; Inserts; Tolerances
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Railroads; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00469507
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309045150
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 31 1988 12:00AM