Railway Track Quality Assessment Method Based on Mechanism Modeling

The present track quality assessment method for maintenance work is based on pure geometrical assessment quantities. This leads to a weak correlation between the assessment quantities and the vehicle response forces. Geometric track irregularities are one of the most important excitation parameters for a railway vehicle. The track excitation leads to high vibrations and therefore to dynamic vehicle response forces. The track quality assessment is essential for the maintenance work. Our proposed method for track geometry assessment calculates a vehicle response prediction based on mechanism modeling. In this paper, the coupling thought of vehicle and track is applied, the vertical vehicle-track coupling mechanism model is set up. The track vertical profile irregularities are regarded as stationary ergodic Gaussian random processes. The results show that the geometry parameters which is not exceed still could cause excessive wheel-rail forces and brings threat to safety in vehicle operation.