On the vertical coupling effect of ballasted tracks in multi–span simply–supported railway bridges under operating conditions

Abstract

This contribution investigates the vertical coupling exerted by ballasted tracks on the vertical response of bridges composed either of (i) several successive simply-supported spans with weak coupling between them due to the continuous track; or (ii) adjacent single-track decks conforming a double-track bridge, in which interaction effects are induced due to the transverse continuity of the ballast layer. To this end, 2 D and 3 D track-bridge interaction Finite Element models are implemented, which consider a three-layer discrete and explicit idealization of the track. The 2 D track-bridge interaction model is used to perform sensitivity analyses on the track parameters, which have revealed that the ballast shear mechanisms along the track may significantly affect the train-induced vibrations under resonant conditions. Then, the influence of the ballast coupling on the response of twin adjacent decks is investigated with a 3 D track-bridge interaction model. To this end, this model is updated based on the results of an experimental campaign performed on a real bridge composed of two SS spans and two single track twin adjacent decks. The numerical-experimental comparison shows an evident dynamic vertical coupling between the bridge decks and reveals the importance of including the ballasted track in the modelling process of these structures.

Keywords:

• Multispan railway bridges
• ballasted track
• track-structure interaction
• span coupling
• experimental measurements
• resonance
• vertical acceleration

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under research project PID2019-109622RB; FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020 Operational Program for project US-126491; Generalitat Valenciana under research project AICO2021/200; Junta de Andalucía and the European Social Fund through the contract USE-20617-D with the Universidad de Sevilla, and the Andalusian Scientific Computing Centre (CICA).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.