Numerical study of rail support condition effect on the rail behavior under train passage at bridge – abutment – embankment section

Abstract

The rail support conditions vary significantly at each section of the bridge, abutment, and embankment. This leads to problems such as subsidence in the ballast section behind the abutment, unsupported sleepers, and rail uplift behind the abutment or at the bridge edge. Therefore, a quantitatively evaluable model is necessary. This study proposes the non-linear FEM, which can account for variations in rail support conditions and unsupported sleepers. The results calculated by the proposed model are consistent with the rail displacement distribution measured by images from the bridge to the embankment. In addition, parametric study using the proposed model demonstrates that rail support conditions affect the behavior of the rail laid on bridge, abutment, and embankment.