Railroad Track Mechanics And Technology

Railroad Track Mechanics and Technology is a collection of paper that discusses the advancement in the various areas of railroad track technology. The title’s emphasis is on tackling the concerns that revolve around the track-train interaction. The first part of the text presents the articles about general topics, which include the FRA track research program and balanced national transportation budget. Next, the selection presents the technical materials, such as railroad track structure for high-speed lines; cause and effects of wheel load variation on the high-speed operating line; and the effect of lateral loads on track movement. The book will be of great use to the engineers and technicians who work in rail way transportation industry.

In this book, the authors discuss testing of ballast, including the strength, deformation and degradation aspects of fresh and recycled ballast under monotonic and cyclic loading. The effectiveness of geosynthetics in stabilising recycled ballast has also been examined. A new stress-strain constitutive model for ballast incorporating particle breakage is presented. Finally, a new range of particle gradations, balancing the strength and permeability requirements, has been proposed for future rail tracks. This book is intended as a reference text for final year civil engineering students and postgraduates, and for practicing railway engineers with the task of modernizing existing designs.

Ballast plays a vital role in transmitting and distributing the train wheel loads to the underlying track substructure. The load-bearing capacity, safe train speed, and the levels of noise and vibration, as well as passenger comfort depend on the behaviour of ballast through particle interlocking and the corresponding deformation of this granular assembly. Attrition and breakage of ballast occur progressively under heavy and continual cyclic loading, causing track deterioration and rail misalignment affecting safety, while exacerbating the intensity of track maintenance. In the absence of realistic computational models, the track substructure is traditionally designed using mostly empirical approaches. In this book, the authors present the detailed information on the strength, deformation, and degradation aspects of fresh and recycled ballast under monotonic, cyclic, and impact loading using innovative geotechnical testing devices. A constitutive model for ballast incorporating particle breakage is presented representing a more realistic stress–strain response. The mathematical formulations and numerical models are validated using controlled experimental simulations and fully instrumented field trials. Revised ballast gradation is described to provide greater track resiliency and extended longevity. The book also provides a detailed description of geosynthetics for substructure improvement considering track deterioration caused by particle degradation, fouling, and impeded drainage. New to this second edition are extensive discussions on subgrade soil stabilisation, causes and mechanisms of soil fluidisation (mud pumping) under cyclic loading, and preventive and remedial measures to alleviate undue instability of ballast tracks. This book should prove most beneficial for final-year civil engineering students and for postgraduate teaching and learning. It is an ideal supplement for practising railway engineers and researchers engaged in the challenging tasks of future track design for heavier and faster trains.

Track/Train Dynamics and Design: Advanced Techniques reviews the progress that has been made in the development and applications of advanced analytical techniques for improving the dynamic stability, safety, and reliability of current generation rail freight vehicle components and track structures. Topics covered range from structural mechanics and stress analysis methods to and material science techniques for the prediction of fracture and wear in railroad applications. The nature of technology transfer from other application areas, notably aerospace, is considered, along with the unique nature of some railroad problems. This book is comprised of 26 chapters and opens with an overview of Phase II of the Cooperative Track-Train Dynamics Program, including its main goals, tasks, and progress. The reader is then introduced to the state Of the art of rail analytical techniques and cost/benefit issues associated with railways and railroad transportation. The following chapters explore body centerplate fatigue cracking; mathematical models for track/train dynamics; wheel and rail wear during freight car curving; and application of advanced stress analysis techniques in the design of freight car components. The application of finite element analysis to the study of railroad wheel failure phenomena is also outlined. This monograph will be a useful resource for transportation and mechanical engineers, especially those dealing with railroads.

Keep Up with Advancements in the Field of Rail Vehicle DesignA thorough understanding of the issues that affect dynamic performance, as well as more inventive methods for controlling rail vehicle dynamics, is needed to meet the demands for safer rail vehicles with higher speed and loads. Design and Simulation of Rail Vehicles examines the field of

Proceedings of the 12th International Association for Vehicle System Dynamics (IAVSD) Symposium held in Lyon, France, Aug. 1991 (and a supplement to Vehicle system dynamics; v.20 . The main theme is the application of math modeling to the problems of road and rail vehicle dynamics. Many papers deal