Railway track longitudinal force model

Abstract

Most railway track dynamics models focus on vertical and lateral directions. Vehicle dynamics have strong implications for track longitudinal dynamics, but railway track longitudinal force models are rarely published. This paper developed a three-dimensional railway track model which considers four structure layers: rails, sleepers, ballast and subballast. The rails are modelled using the Finite Element Method and each node has six Degrees of Freedom (DoFs). Sleepers are modelled as rigid bodies and each also has six DoFs. Ballast and subballast are modelled as blocks and each has three translational DoFs. Frictional behaviour is considered in the longitudinal direction of the fastening models as well as in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the sleeper-ballast force connections. Validations of the model are presented in this paper. Simulations of longitudinal forces are also presented. The results show that the model has the capability of simulating track longitudinal forces and the rail creep phenomenon.

KEYWORDS:

• Railway track dynamics
• track-vehicle coupled dynamics
• finite element method
• longitudinal force
• 3D model

Acknowledgements

The editing contribution of Mr Tim McSweeney (Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Railway Engineering) is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.