scholarly journals Finite Element Modeling of the Dynamic Response of Critical Zones in a Ballasted Railway Track

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyush Punetha ◽  
Krijan Maharjan ◽  
Sanjay Nimbalkar

The critical zones are the discontinuities along a railway line that are highly susceptible to differential settlement, due to an abrupt variation in the support conditions over a short span. Consequently, these zones require frequent maintenance to ensure adequate levels of passenger safety and comfort. A proper understanding of the behavior of railway tracks at critical zones is imperative to enhance their performance and reduce the frequency of costly maintenance operations. This paper investigates the dynamic behavior of the critical zone along a bridge-open track transition under moving train loads using two-dimensional finite element approach. The influence of different subgrade types on the track behavior is studied. The effectiveness of using geogrids, wedge-shaped engineered backfill and zone with reduced sleeper spacing in improving the performance of the critical zone is evaluated. The numerical model is successfully validated against the field data reported in the literature. The results indicate that the subgrade soil significantly influences the track response on the softer side of the critical zone. The difference in vertical displacement between the stiffer and the softer side of a track transition decreases significantly with an increase in the strength and stiffness of the subgrade soil. The subgrade layer also influences the contribution of the granular layers (ballast and subballast) to the overall track response. As the subgrade becomes stiffer and stronger, the contribution of the granular layers to the overall track displacement increases. The mitigation techniques that improve the stiffness or strength of granular layers may prove more effective for critical zones with stiff subgrade than critical zones with soft subgrade. Among all the mitigation techniques investigated, the wedge-shaped engineered backfill significantly improved the performance of the critical zone by gradually increasing the track stiffness.

2011 ◽  
Vol 189-193 ◽  
pp. 472-475
Author(s):  
Yao Dong Gu ◽  
Xue Jun Ren ◽  
Zhi Yong Li ◽  
Guo Qing Ruan ◽  
Li Yang

Injuries of the base of the fifth metatarsal are among the most common of all skeletal injuries of the foot. The fracture is considered by previous research to be an avulsion due to the slip fascia, however, the mechanism of the plantar slip fascia’s function still not very clear. In this study, a detailed three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model was developed by reconstruction of CT images. A sensitivity study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying stiffness of the slip fascia on the fifth metatarsal’s deformation. The results showed that the largest vertical displacement was appeared in the metatarsal’s head part, and the difference was up to 10.5%, while the Young’s modulus of the slip fascia increasing from 50MPa to 500MPa.


Author(s):  
Badr H. Bedairi ◽  
Ahmed B. Khoshaim ◽  
Badr S. Azzam

In this paper, a comparison study has been presented to see the difference between the theoretical and finite element analysis for ball bearing. Throughout that study, a finite element analysis is performed to determine the maximum contact pressure and maximum stresses induced in the bearing components; rolling elements and rings. Another purpose of this analysis is to validate the most critical zones in the bearing for knowing the scenario of generating this stress and pressure which enabling the specialists to determine the initiation point for failure in the bearing. The comparison between the results of the numerical study with theoretical one has showed the good agreement outputs of this numerical study. In addition, this analysis could give the displacements and deformations that raised in the bearing elements at the highest critical zones.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-813
Author(s):  
Joël Chaskalovic ◽  
Franck Assous

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to provide a new perspective on finite element accuracy. Starting from a geometrical reading of the Bramble–Hilbert lemma, we recall the two probabilistic laws we got in previous works that estimate the relative accuracy, considered as a random variable, between two finite elements {P_{k}} and {P_{m}} ({k<m}). Then we analyze the asymptotic relation between these two probabilistic laws when the difference {m-k} goes to infinity. New insights which qualify the relative accuracy in the case of high order finite elements are also obtained.


Author(s):  
Shuai Yu ◽  
Shihui Shen ◽  
Hai Huang ◽  
Cheng Zhang

Considerable variation in the vertical displacement can cause railway tracks’ transition problems at the bridge approach. The vertical displacement gaps can result in amplification of the dynamic force and frequency, and gradually degrade the serviceability of the railway track. Many strategies, focusing on either modifying the track component or making changes to the entire structure, were used to mitigate transition problems. In particular, asphalt concrete underlayment as a structural adjustment method provides additional support to the ballast and protects the subgrade. However, its effect of reducing dynamic impact at the bridge approach is limited because asphalt mixture has a limited range of modulus and cannot make enough adjustments to the entire structure. Therefore, this paper aims to develop an engineered semi-flexible composite mixture (SFCM) design to mitigate the transition problem. The experiment showed that SFCM is a viscoelastic material with a wider modulus range, and its modulus can adjust with its air voids and the concrete slurry content. Track analysis using a 2.5D sandwich model was conducted to simulate the effects of the structure and material on the responses of the railway track under the dynamic loads and determine the arrangement of the transition zone. A four-segment transition zone design was eventually proposed for a special case of bridge approach. This method can be used to develop transition zones for achieving a smooth transition at the bridge approaches.


Vibration ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-174
Author(s):  
André F. S. Rodrigues ◽  
Zuzana Dimitrovová

In this paper, the three-layer model of ballasted railway track with discrete supports is analyzed to access its applicability. The model is referred as the discrete support model and abbreviated by DSM. For calibration, a 3D finite element (FE) model is created and validated by experiments. Formulas available in the literature are analyzed and new formulas for identifying parameters of the DSM are derived and validated over the range of typical track properties. These formulas are determined by fitting the results of the DSM to the 3D FE model using metaheuristic optimization. In addition, the range of applicability of the DSM is established. The new formulas are presented as a simple computational engineering tool, allowing one to calculate all the data needed for the DSM by adopting the geometrical and basic mechanical properties of the track. It is demonstrated that the currently available formulas have to be adapted to include inertial effects of the dynamically activated part of the foundation and that the contribution of the shear stiffness, being determined by ballast and foundation properties, is essential. Based on this conclusion, all similar models that neglect the shear resistance of the model and inertial properties of the foundation are unable to reproduce the deflection shape of the rail in a general way.


2006 ◽  
Vol 324-325 ◽  
pp. 951-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Min Yu ◽  
Zhu Feng Yue ◽  
Yong Shou Liu

Fracture along an interface between materials plays a major role in failure of material. In this investigation, finite element calculations with Kachanov–Rabotnov damage law were carried out to study the creep damage distribution near the interface cavity in bimaterial specimens. The specimens with central hole were divided into three types. The material parameters of K-R law used in this paper were chosen for a brittle material and ductile material. All calculations were performed under four load cases. Due to the difference between elastic moduli of the bounded materials, the elastic stress field as a function of the Young’s modulus ratio (R=E1/E2) was determined. At the same time, the influence of model type on elastic stress distribution near the cavity was considered. Under the same conditions, the material with larger modulus is subjected to larger stress. The creep damage calculations show that the location of the maximum damage is different for each model. The distributions of creep damage for all three models are dependent on the material properties and load cases.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed-Ali Mosayebi ◽  
Morteza Esmaeili ◽  
Jabbar-Ali Zakeri

Review of technical literature regarding to train-induced vibrations shows that the effects of unsupported railway sleepers on this issue have been less investigated. So, the present study was devoted to numerical investigations of the mentioned issue. In this regard, first the problem of longitudinal train–track dynamic interaction was simulated in two dimensions by using the finite element method and the developed model was validated through comparison of the results with those obtained by previous researchers. In the next stage, a series of sensitivity analyses were accomplished to account for the effects of value of gap beneath the unsupported sleeper(s) and the track support stiffness on increasing the sleeper displacement and track support force. Moreover, the raised sleeper support force was introduced as applied load to a two-dimensional plane strain finite element model of track in lateral section and consequently the train-induced vibrations were assessed. As a result, a series of regression equations were established between the peak particle velocity in the surrounding environment of railway track and the sleeper support stiffness for tracks without unsupported sleepers and with one and two unsupported sleepers.


2014 ◽  
Vol 945-949 ◽  
pp. 591-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Chen ◽  
Yan Yun Luo ◽  
Bin Zhang

Finite element model of track in frog zone is built by vehicle-turnout system dynamics. Considering variation of rail section and elastic support, bending deformation of turnout sleeper, spacer block and sharing pad effects, the track integral rigidity distribution in longitudinal direction is calculated in the model. Vehicle-turnout rigid-flexible coupling model is built by finite element method (FEM), multi-body system (MBS) dynamics and Hertz contact theory. With the regularity solution that different stiffness is applied for rubber pad under sharing pad of different turnout sleeper zone, analysis the variation of vertical acceleration of bogie and wheelset, rail vertical displacement and wheel-rail interaction force, this paper proves that setting reasonable rubber pad stiffness is an efficient method to solve rigidity irregularity problem.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbora Vojáčková ◽  
Jan Tippner ◽  
Petr Horáček ◽  
Luděk Praus ◽  
Václav Sebera ◽  
...  

Failure of a tree can be caused by a stem breakage, tree uprooting, or branch failure. While the pulling test is used for assessing the first two cases, there is no device-supported method to assess branch failure. A combination of the optical technique, pulling test, and deflection curve analysis could provide a device-supported tool for this kind of assessment. The aim of the work was to perform a structural analysis of branch response to static mechanical loading. The analyses were carried out by finite element simulations in ANSYS using beam tapered elements of elliptical cross-sections. The numerical analyses were verified by the pulling test combined with a sophisticated optical assessment of deflection evaluation. The Probabilistic Design System was used to find the parameters that influence branch mechanical response to loading considering the use of cantilever beam deflection for stability analysis. The difference in the branch’s deflection between the simulation and the experiment is 0.5% to 26%. The high variability may be explained by the variable modulus of the elasticity of branches. The finite element (FE) sensitivity analysis showed a higher significance of geometry parameters (diameter, length, tapering, elliptical cross-section) than material properties (elastic moduli). The anchorage rotation was found to be significant, implying that this parameter may affect the outcome in mechanical analysis of branch behavior. The branch anchorage can influence the deflection of the whole branch, which should be considered in stability assessment.


2012 ◽  
Vol 430-432 ◽  
pp. 525-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Chen ◽  
Ke Xin Bi

Using the finite element software ANSYS/LS-DYNA for the universal rolling machine to simulate,research unit of the universal rolling deformation etc, and the use of universal mill for heavy rail rolling to simulate of lead samples, study of both. By comparing experimental results, the results show rolling simulation of laboratory lead samples and finite element simulations of computer are basically the same, use the universal pass, the difference of pressure coefficient for the rail head and rail base and rail back that work on the workpiece at the universal pass is small, deformation of workpiece is uniformity, it ensure the dimensional accuracy of the finished rail on the rail section.


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