Running safety evaluation of high-speed train subject to the impact of floating ice collision on bridge piers

In Northeast China and the areas along Sichuan-Tibet railway, collision between floating ice and piers of railway bridges seriously threatens the train operation safety. The safety of high-speed train running on the bridge subject to the impact of floating ice collision is rarely assessed considering the spatial interaction of the train-track-bridge-ice system. To evaluate the running safety and ride comfort of trains and the structural stability of railway bridges under the collision between floating ices and piers, a train-track-bridge (TTB) dynamic interaction model considering the impact of floating ice is established. Using the refined finite element model, the collision process of floating ice on bridge pier is simulated, and the impact loads are employed as the excitation input of the TTB dynamics model. Taking a 5 x 32 m simply-supported bridges as a case study, the influence of bridge structural parameters on the floating ice collision system is investigated, and then the dynamic responses of the TTB system induced by the floating ice impact loads are analyzed in detail. Finally, the effect of the ice impact loads on the running safety of the high-speed train is revealed. Results show that under the floating ice impact loads, the angle of the pier sharp-nose (APSN) and lateral stiffness of foundations are the key parameters that influence the dynamic responses of the bridge, and an improperly small lateral stiffness of foundation would lead to an instability of bridge structure. The influence of ice impact loads on the dynamic responses of the train is remarkable. The lateral vibration acceleration, derailment factor and lateral wheel rail force caused by the ice impact loads are all greater than those caused by the track irregularity, while the wheel unloading rate is slightly smaller. In addition, the running speed of train is also closely related to the running safety and ride comfort when the collision occurs. When the train speed exceeds 400 km/h, the train passing through the bridge would have the possibility of derailment.

Automated summary

A dynamic interaction model considering the impact of floating ice on train-track-bridge (TTB) system has been established. It shows that the angle of the pier sharp-nose (APSN) and lateral stiffness of foundations are key parameters influencing the dynamic responses of the bridge structure under ice impact loads. The study also reveals the significant influence of ice impact loads on the dynamic responses of the train, potentially leading to derailment at speeds exceeding 400 km/h.