Keywords: high-speed train, eco-friendly prestressed concrete sleeper, roadbed pressure, roadbed settlement.

In Korea, the speed-up of conventional rail lines is one of the main issues since high-speed trains have been developed. It is a fact that the straightening of track alignment is one of the undoubted ways to improve the train speed on conventional lines, while that requires huge investment resources. Therefore, the operation of a high-speed train as well as the minimum improvement of track has been suggested as an effective and economical alternative way for the speed-up of conventional lines. In this study, the roadbed performance (roadbed pressure and settlement) induced by the high-speed train was numerically evaluated in order to make sure its operation safety on the conventional line. As a result of this study, the high-speed train which will be operated in combination with existing trains is expected to give no adverse impact on the conventional line even with its improved running speed.

As a result of the characteristics of the ballasted track the cumulative plastic settlement of a roadbed has been inevitably developed but it can be rehabilitated by the track maintenance. Therefore, in this study, the elastic roadbed responses (bearing pressure and settlement) were numerically evaluated as required performance indicators to the running stability of the Korean Train eXpress on the improved conventional line by the eco-friendly PC sleeper. When the bearing capacity or stiffness of the roadbed is sufficiently rigid, as is in the targeted conventional line, predicted roadbed responses for the targeted speed (230km/h) of the Korean Train eXpress were satisfied with the allowable criteria reported in the previous studies.

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