Journal of Engineering Research
Abstract
The railway slab track has replaced the ballast material in the classical ballasted track with reinforced concrete slab or asphalt layer to cope up with the increasing axle loads, train high-speeds, and to reduce overall maintenance cost. This paper aims to investigate the linear and nonlinear behavior of the most common slab track systems (BÖGL, Shinkansen, and RHEDA 2000) using American (AREMA) loads for different soil types to recommend the most suitable analysis type for each component of the slab track systems. Slab track Finite Element models have been built using Midas GTS NX software. The geometric model for each slab track type has been performed according to their standard section. The results of the analysis have indicated that, for BÖGL slab track, the difference of the rail displacement between the linear and nonlinear analysis is 26% meanwhile the differences of replacement layer stresses for BÖGL between linear and nonlinear are about 40 %. Concerning Shinkansen slab track, the difference of the rail deflection between the linear and nonlinear are 31% while the difference of replacement layer stresses for Shinkansen between linear and nonlinear is significantly huge about 65%. Regarding RHEDA 2000, the rail displacement variation between the linear and nonlinear is 16%. Concerning the replacement layer stresses variance for RHEDA 2000 between linear and nonlinear is about 46%. Changing the subgrade soil types has concluded that the nonlinear modelling should be utilized for the slab track substructure for poor, medium, and good soils while the linear modelling can be sufficient for very good soil types (rocks, gravel, etc.). Linear modelling can be enough to represent the analysis of the slab track superstructure to save computational cost.
The railway slab track has replaced the ballast material in the classical ballasted track with reinforced concrete slab or asphalt layer to cope up with the increasing axle loads, train high-speeds, and to reduce overall maintenance cost. This paper aims to investigate the linear and nonlinear behavior of the most common slab track systems (BÖGL, Shinkansen, and RHEDA 2000) using American (AREMA) loads for different soil types to recommend the most suitable analysis type for each component of the slab track systems. Slab track Finite Element models have been built using Midas GTS NX software. The geometric model for each slab track type has been performed according to their standard section. The results of the analysis have indicated that, for BÖGL slab track, the difference of the rail displacement between the linear and nonlinear analysis is 26% meanwhile the differences of replacement layer stresses for BÖGL between linear and nonlinear are about 40 %. Concerning Shinkansen slab track, the difference of the rail deflection between the linear and nonlinear are 31% while the difference of replacement layer stresses for Shinkansen between linear and nonlinear is significantly huge about 65%. Regarding RHEDA 2000, the rail displacement variation between the linear and nonlinear is 16%. Concerning the replacement layer stresses variance for RHEDA 2000 between linear and nonlinear is about 46%. Changing the subgrade soil types has concluded that the nonlinear modelling should be utilized for the slab track substructure for poor, medium, and good soils while the linear modelling can be sufficient for very good soil types (rocks, gravel, etc.). Linear modelling can be enough to represent the analysis of the slab track superstructure to save computational cost.
Recommended Citation
ALY, MOHAMED HAFEZ FAHMY; ABOU EL-NAGA, ISLAM MAHMOUD; SOLIMAN, AHMED ABDUL HAY; and Diab, Muhammad Ahmad
(2024)
"MODELLING TECHNIQUES FOR SLAB TRACK SYSTEMS,"
Journal of Engineering Research: Vol. 8:
Iss.
1, Article 1.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/erjeng/vol8/iss1/1