TY - JOUR
T1 - Three-dimensional modelling of slab-track systems based on dynamic experimental tests
AU - Thölken, D.
AU - Abdalla Filho, J. E.
AU - Pombo, J.
AU - Sainz-Aja, J.
AU - Carrascal, I.
AU - Polanco, J.
AU - Esen, A.
AU - Laghrouche, O.
AU - Woodward, P.
N1 - Funding Information:
The first author would like to thank Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana (PUCPR), Heriot-Watt University and LADICIM for making all this work possible. Also, she would like to thank CAPES for the doctoral scholarship, and also for the scholarship of the Programa de Doutorado Sanduíche no Exterior - PDSE, which allowed her stay at Heriot-Watt University. This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, through IDMEC, under LAETA, project UIDB/50022/2020.
Funding Information:
The first author would like to thank Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana (PUCPR), Heriot-Watt University and LADICIM for making all this work possible. Also, she would like to thank CAPES for the doctoral scholarship, and also for the scholarship of the Programa de Doutorado Sandu?che no Exterior - PDSE, which allowed her stay at Heriot-Watt University. This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, through IDMEC, under LAETA, project UIDB/50022/2020.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - The accurate computational modelling of railway systems is crucial for analysis and design, which allows for excellent and enduring performance of such systems. It is capable of providing the industry with data for improving speed, comfort, load capacity and reliability. Further, as accurate solutions serve as an aid to improve railway systems, they contribute to quality services, social welfare, cost effectiveness and sustainability. An important component of a railway system is the track, which, in general, requires high investments for construction and maintenance. This work develops calibrated three-dimensional (3D) Finite Element (FE) models for slab track systems which can be employed for analysis and design with great level of reliability. These models are developed based on full-scale dynamic tests performed under the application of loads which simulate the passage of high-speed trains. The components considered are the rails, rail pads, slab track, grout, Hydraulicaly Bonded Layer (HBL), Frost Protection Layer (FPL) and subgrade. The FE models are built and calibrated in order to reproduce the measured displacement and acceleration test results. Due to the uncertainties in some material properties, a parametric analysis is also performed to establish to which material characteristics of the system the model is more sensitive to. It has been found that the Young’s moduli for the FPL layer and subgrade are the most important parameters. Further, the stiffness properties of rail pads play a paramount role in the accuracy of the model.
AB - The accurate computational modelling of railway systems is crucial for analysis and design, which allows for excellent and enduring performance of such systems. It is capable of providing the industry with data for improving speed, comfort, load capacity and reliability. Further, as accurate solutions serve as an aid to improve railway systems, they contribute to quality services, social welfare, cost effectiveness and sustainability. An important component of a railway system is the track, which, in general, requires high investments for construction and maintenance. This work develops calibrated three-dimensional (3D) Finite Element (FE) models for slab track systems which can be employed for analysis and design with great level of reliability. These models are developed based on full-scale dynamic tests performed under the application of loads which simulate the passage of high-speed trains. The components considered are the rails, rail pads, slab track, grout, Hydraulicaly Bonded Layer (HBL), Frost Protection Layer (FPL) and subgrade. The FE models are built and calibrated in order to reproduce the measured displacement and acceleration test results. Due to the uncertainties in some material properties, a parametric analysis is also performed to establish to which material characteristics of the system the model is more sensitive to. It has been found that the Young’s moduli for the FPL layer and subgrade are the most important parameters. Further, the stiffness properties of rail pads play a paramount role in the accuracy of the model.
KW - Dynamic finite element modelling
KW - Full-scale tests
KW - Parametric analysis
KW - Railway dynamics
KW - Slab-tracks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112616569&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.trgeo.2021.100663
DO - 10.1016/j.trgeo.2021.100663
M3 - Article
SN - 2214-3912
VL - 31
JO - Transportation Geotechnics
JF - Transportation Geotechnics
M1 - 100663
ER -