Effects of Wheel Defects on Dynamic Track Buckling in Transition Zones of Open-Deck Steel Bridges
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 35, Issue 5
Abstract
Track buckling potential can be higher in the transition zones of steel bridges due to the combination of contact loads and large compressive forces present in this region because of rail and bridge thermal loads. Wheel–rail contact loads are also magnified due to wheel defects, which has not been addressed before in the literature. The aim of this paper is to have an in-depth investigation of the effects of wheel defects on dynamic track buckling in the transition zones of open-deck steel bridges by employing a multibody train–track dynamic model and a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element track model. Various amplitudes of wheel defects as well as normal and severe braking scenarios are simulated. Because the magnitude of bridge thermal loads in the transition zones is determined by the longitudinal track–bridge interaction, three fastening profiles between the track and the bridge are introduced using resilient and zero toe load (ZTL) fasteners. Based on the results, it is concluded that wheel defects can have a significant effect on dynamic track buckling. Dynamic track buckling temperature can drop by 33% compared to the static track buckling of open track, depending on the amplitude of wheel defect, type of the wagon wheel brake, and girder temperature. Further experimental tests are required to evaluate the applicability of mitigation methods to avoid track buckling in the transition zones, such as using various shapes of sleepers in this zone.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported under Australian Research Council’s Industrial Transformation Training Centres Scheme (ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure; IC170100006). The work reported in this paper was formulated initially by Manicka Dhanasekar, former professor of infrastructure engineering at the first author’s institution, in collaboration with Queensland Rail.
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Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 35 • Issue 5 • October 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Feb 11, 2021
Accepted: May 14, 2021
Published online: Aug 6, 2021
Published in print: Oct 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jan 6, 2022
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