ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: This paper describes the track-bridge interaction phenomenon in bridges for high speed railways, proposing a methodology for the structural analysis of the substructure taking into account the following aspects: horizontal loads and imposed displacements due to the longterm behaviour of concrete and temperature using a step by step analysis and, if required, the construction process, behaviour of ballast using a non-linear links between the track and the superstructure and behaviour of POT bearings, interaction between foundation and ground conditions. The methodology fulfils the specifications of Eurocode 1 and consist of modelling the whole structure (track-bridge) with a 2D or 3D model using linear bar elements and non-linear springs and the analysis of the different short-time and long-time scenarios. To illustrate the methodology, three case studies of concrete viaducts of the HSR line Madrid-Barcelona-French Border are presented. The results are compared with those obtained from the simplified design methods.
