Investigation of Longitudinal Forces in a Concrete Railroad Trestle
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 5
Abstract
Transportation Technology Center, Inc., the University of Illinois, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company conducted tests on a long concrete trestle to quantify the longitudinal forces generated by a coal train with AC locomotives. Results support the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) formula for forces due to traction. Testing determined the distribution of shear forces in bents and the equilibrium of the structure in conjunction with an analytical model of the bridge structure. Design longitudinal forces and stresses in piles were also evaluated. The primary observation was that a large amount of longitudinal force is transmitted to the trestle, but it is distributed to a large number of bents through many spans. Forces in individual bents are quite small as compared to the total applied force.
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Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the support provided by Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad Railway Company personnel. Of particular mention are William G. Byers, Director of Structures Construction; Nelson Bynum, Supervisor of Structures; William Traylor, General Road Foreman; and Mark Cole and Karl Rethwisch, Road Foremen of Engines.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 11 • Issue 5 • September 2006
Pages: 618 - 625
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 15, 2005
Accepted: May 2, 2005
Published online: Sep 1, 2006
Published in print: Sep 2006
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