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A comparison of ground vibration due to ballasted and slab tracks

A comparison of ground vibration due to ballasted and slab tracks
A comparison of ground vibration due to ballasted and slab tracks
With the development of non-ballasted track forms (often referred to as slab tracks) over the few last decades, it is important to understand their behaviour with respect to ground-borne vibration compared with the traditional ballasted tracks. This is important in deciding between the use of the two track forms. The present work aims to quantify the differences between slab tracks and ballasted tracks numerically by using the MOTIV model. This is a general and fully coupled three-dimensional model that works in the wavenumber-frequency domain. It can predict the vibration levels of the track and the ground due to the gravitational loading of a passing train and the wheel and rail unevenness. A comparative analysis between the two track types is presented in terms of ground vibration with emphasis given to the influence of the stiffness and inertial parameters of the two track forms. It is shown that, for the same fastener stiffness there are only small differences in ground vibration behaviour, with the mass of the track slab leading to reductions of 1-3 dB at frequencies above 16 Hz. However, if softer rail fasteners are used in the slab track, as is usual, this leads to further reductions above 63 Hz. The critical velocity on soft soil is also considered. Although there is little difference between the different tracks for a homogeneous ground, for grounds with a soft surface layer the critical velocity is increased by the slab bending stiffness. The maximum rail displacement is also smaller for a slab track than the equivalent ballasted track.
2214-3912
Ntotsios, Evangelos
877c3350-0497-4471-aa97-c101df72e05e
Thompson, David J.
bca37fd3-d692-4779-b663-5916b01edae5
Hussein, Mohammed F.M.
5a0b49af-1ef1-46f4-8e25-aa87162216c4
Ntotsios, Evangelos
877c3350-0497-4471-aa97-c101df72e05e
Thompson, David J.
bca37fd3-d692-4779-b663-5916b01edae5
Hussein, Mohammed F.M.
5a0b49af-1ef1-46f4-8e25-aa87162216c4

Ntotsios, Evangelos, Thompson, David J. and Hussein, Mohammed F.M. (2019) A comparison of ground vibration due to ballasted and slab tracks. Transportation Geotechnics, 21, [100256]. (doi:10.1016/j.trgeo.2019.100256).

Record type: Article

Abstract

With the development of non-ballasted track forms (often referred to as slab tracks) over the few last decades, it is important to understand their behaviour with respect to ground-borne vibration compared with the traditional ballasted tracks. This is important in deciding between the use of the two track forms. The present work aims to quantify the differences between slab tracks and ballasted tracks numerically by using the MOTIV model. This is a general and fully coupled three-dimensional model that works in the wavenumber-frequency domain. It can predict the vibration levels of the track and the ground due to the gravitational loading of a passing train and the wheel and rail unevenness. A comparative analysis between the two track types is presented in terms of ground vibration with emphasis given to the influence of the stiffness and inertial parameters of the two track forms. It is shown that, for the same fastener stiffness there are only small differences in ground vibration behaviour, with the mass of the track slab leading to reductions of 1-3 dB at frequencies above 16 Hz. However, if softer rail fasteners are used in the slab track, as is usual, this leads to further reductions above 63 Hz. The critical velocity on soft soil is also considered. Although there is little difference between the different tracks for a homogeneous ground, for grounds with a soft surface layer the critical velocity is increased by the slab bending stiffness. The maximum rail displacement is also smaller for a slab track than the equivalent ballasted track.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 1 July 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 16 July 2019
Published date: December 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 432952
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/432952
ISSN: 2214-3912
PURE UUID: b86ad6a1-556c-405e-b843-4be318da6d06
ORCID for Evangelos Ntotsios: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7382-0948
ORCID for David J. Thompson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7964-5906

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Date deposited: 01 Aug 2019 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 08:02

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Author: Mohammed F.M. Hussein

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