ABSTRACT
In this work, a three-dimensional numerical analysis of a railroad bridge crossed by a heavy-haul vehicle during crosswinds was performed using a train-track-bridge interaction methodology and considering realistic non-linear wheel-rail contact modelling. Numerical models of the bridge and the vehicle were developed in a finite element and multibody methodologies, respectively. The case study is a 550 meters long railway bridge composed of 22 simply supported steel-concrete composite spans, crossed by heavy hail vehicles of the GDU gondola type wagon with 325 kN axle loads. Crosswinds were modelled according to stochastic wind field theory and artificial rail irregularity profiles were generated using the Federal Railroad Association spectra. Assessment of structural and train running safety was performed by investigating the dynamic behavior of the bridge while the safety of the vehicle is evaluated through indirect running safety indices as well as direct derailment coefficients based on vertical and lateral wheel-rail contact forces.
