Numerical and field investigations of track dynamic behavior caused by light and heavy railway vehicles

Dynamic behavior of a track-train system is a function of axle loads and support stiffness because of non-linear supports. Therefore, it is expected that the support stiffness affects the behavior of the railway track during passing of a light or heavy car body. Since the effects of axle loads caused by light and heavy railway vehicles and support stiffness of ballasted railway tracks due to passing railway vehicles have not been studied adequately, therefore the present study focused on this issue. For this purpose, this issue was first investigated by passing a light and heavy car body including bogies with three axle loads as field tests. Then, numerical analyses of the railway track caused by the passing of these railway vehicles were studied, and the numerical results were compared with the field results. There was a good agreement between the values of field responses and numerical analyses. Subsequently, a series of sensitivity analyses on effects of the axle loads caused by light or heavy loading and support conditions was done on the ballasted railway track. The results indicated that the maximum vertical displacements increased by axle loads, increased sleeper distances and decreases support stiffness. Finally, equations of track behavior based on support stiffness and axle loads were derived.