A reduced track model to understand the dynamic behavior of the track

Nowadays, trends in railways are for more traffic at higher speed, whereas infrastructures remain basically unchanged. As track design has evolved over the years based on experience, the introduction of numerical models could be a tool to gain better understanding of track behaviour and improve track design. Dynavoie software is a finite element model which aims to offer a comprehensive view of the track, taking into account all the components of the system, from the rail to the soil. This global approach is a specificity of the software, as well as the low computation time due to the reduction strategy. This paper presents model validation steps in the frequency domain, computing a receptance test and comparing it to another model presented in the literature. A characterisation of the railway substructure based on this test is then proposed