ABSTRACT

The stability of tracks and safety of high speed rail operations is highly dependent on the track lateral resistance. Loss of lateral resistance in ballasted tracks could result in losing alignment and surface. Track stability becomes even more important for high speed rails since lateral resistance could be lost as the result of the induced uplift acceleration in the track. This study aims to identify scenarios for the operation of a ballasted high-speed rail track where bridge deck accelerations could be experienced above the recommended levels. The study performs uncoupled dynamic Finite Element analyses for typical bridge cross-sections using assumptions about the upper and lower bound stiffness/mass properties of the bridges. As the result, range of potential structural conditions where high acceleration levels could be experienced in the bridge deck will be identified. The outcome of this study will help develop appropriate monitoring solutions to continuously monitor bridge/track performance.