Numerical simulations to improve the use of under sleeper pads at transition zones to railway bridges

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

André Paixão (Author) FEUP; José Nuno Varandas (Author) Other; Eduardo Fortunato (Author) Other; Rui Calçada (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Engineering Structures

Vol. 164

Pages: 169-182

ISSN: 0141-0296

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 19 Citations

INSPEC

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-Q9E

DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.03.005

Abstract (EN): Transition zones to bridges and other structures are critical locations in railway tracks that frequently evidence poor long-term performance. Under sleeper pads (USPs) are reported to reduce ballast degradation and control the vertical stiffness of the track, which suggests that USPs can contribute to mitigating the frequent negative effects associated with transitions zones. Aiming at understanding in greater depth the influence of USPs on the dynamic behaviour of transition zones and at improving the design of such railway structures, the authors have developed an extensive experimental and numerical study. 3-D FEM models using state-of-the-art numerical approaches were successfully calibrated and validated using experimental measurements. Simulations supported previous findings, highlighting the potential benefit of USPs and pointing to the need to careful designing of the resilient properties of USPs and their arrangement along transition zones, so as to avoid introducing abrupt variations in track vertical stiffness.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14