ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF AN EMBEDDED RAILWAY TRACK SUBJECTED TO A MOVING LOAD

A dynamic computational model for the embedded railway track subjected to a moving load is developed by means of finite element method in this paper. The model for the track consists of two-layer Euler-Bernoulli beams and continuous visco-elastic elements. The lower beam, the upper beam are employed to model the concrete slab and the rail, respectively, whilst the continuous visco-elastic elements model the soil reaction and the fill material. The problem is solved by employing Newmark-beta numerical integration method. The effects of the speed of the moving loads, the rail type, and the spring stiffness of rail supports are studied. Results show:the dynamic response of rail and slab increases with the increasing of moving loads speed, whilst the response of rail and slab decreases with the increasing of spring stiffness and heavier rail used.