Mapping Relation between Rail and Bridge Deformation Considering Nonlinear Contact of Interlayer

This paper examines the effect of structural deformation on the unit slab-type ballastless track structure of high-speed railway. The principle of stationary potential energy was used to map the relation between girder vertical deformation and rail deformation considering the effect of subgrade boundary conditions and the nonlinear contact of interlayer. The theoretical model was verified by comparing with the finite element analysis and experimental results. The theoretical model was used to analyze the effects of several key parameters on the rail deformation, such as vertical deformation amplitude, elastic modulus of the mortar layer, and vertical stiffness of the fasteners. The results show that the track slabs suffered significant disengagement, which makes the deformation of the track structure at the position of the beam joint tend to be gentle when nonlinear contact between the mortar layer and the track slabs was considered. The track slabs disengagement mainly occurs near the beam joints (the side of the deformed beam). As the deflection amplitude of the girder increases, the track deformation, the fastener forces and the disengagement length of the track slabs are obviously nonlinear. When the vertical stiffness of the fastener and/or the elastic modulus of the mortar layer increase, the fastener force and the track plate disengagement length increase monotonically and nonlinearly, which will adversely affect the life and safety of the track structure.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the impact of structural deformation on the unit slab-type ballastless track structure of high-speed railway, using the stationary potential energy principle to establish a theoretical model. The study found that significant disengagement of track slabs occurred near beam joints when nonlinear contact between the mortar layer and track slabs was considered. The research also revealed that increasing the vertical stiffness of fasteners and/or the elastic modulus of the mortar layer led to a nonlinear increase in fastener force and track plate disengagement length, which could negatively affect the life and safety of the track structure.