Operational Vertical Bending Stresses in Rail: Real-Life Case Study
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 144, Issue 3
Abstract
Train-mounted vertical track deflection (VTD) measurements offer new opportunities for estimating rail bending stresses over long distances. The estimations are possible because of mathematical correlations among rail deflections, rail stresses, and the loads applied to the rail. Previous numerical studies conducted by the authors resulted in a methodology that suggests the use of finite-element models to develop the correlations. These models facilitate the simulation of a stochastically varying track modulus along the track and provide a strong basis for interpreting the deflection data. In this study, data sets collected from a study site were used to validate this methodology for estimating rail bending stresses under passing train loads. The rail-mounted strain gauges and the wheel impact load detector system at the study site provided information about the rail bending strains under known applied loads. This allowed validation of the maximum bending stresses estimated using train-mounted deflection measurements. The magnitude of rail bending stresses was assessed using measurements from different seasons; stress changes over time were also investigated.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the Canadian Rail Research Laboratory (CaRRL) at the University of Alberta for facilitating and funding the project. The CaRRL is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canadian Pacific Railway, Canadian National Railway, the Association of American Railroads—Transportation Technology Center, Inc., the National Research Council of Canada, Transport Canada, and Alberta Innovates—Technology Futures. The authors thank Tom Edwards from CN and Alireza Roghani, a former Ph.D. student at the U of A, for providing the MRail data. Special thanks are also extended to Timothy Robinson from CN for providing information about the locomotive and rail cars.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 144 • Issue 3 • March 2018
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 25, 2017
Accepted: Aug 14, 2017
Published online: Dec 21, 2017
Published in print: Mar 1, 2018
Discussion open until: May 21, 2018
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