Static and Dynamic Behavior of Transitions between Different Railway Track Typologies

[EN] A railway track stretch comprising three different track typologies (i.e., ballasted track, asphalt slab track and concrete slab track) has been modeled using a three-dimensional Finite Elements model, which has been calibrated and validated using real acceleration records. In this model, two different analyses have been run: a static analysis to assess the stiffness evolution and a dynamic analysis to calculate the accelerations induced by the train loads along the transition zones. These analyses have been used to assess the performance of three different techniques existing in the literature to improve the structural behavior of the track in the transition areas: the variation of the stiffness of the elastomers, the implementation of additional rails and the use of resilient mats. Results have demonstrated that these techniques perform generally better in the track vertical stiffness transition between the concrete and asphalt slab tracks while the dynamic response is not significantly altered in any scenario.This research is included within the Research and Development project BITUTRAN supported by the CDTI (Center for the Industrial Technological Development) of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The contribution of EIGE (Infrastructure Authority of the Regional Government of Valencia) and FGV (Railways of the Valencia Region) during the development and the implementation of the project must be acknowledged.Real Herraiz, TP.; Zamorano, C.; Hernández Gracia, C.; García, J.; Real Herráiz, JI. (2016). Static and Dynamic Behavior of Transitions between Different Railway Track Typologies. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering. 20(4):1356-1364. doi:10.1007/s12205-015-0635-2S1356136420