Keywords: fatigue, slab track, transient analysis, modal analysis, high-speed rail.

With the growing use of high speed trains, non-ballasted track has become more popular, in spite of its higher construction cost compared to ballast track. The work described in this paper studies the fatigue behaviour of a slab track using the finite element method. According to Tayabji and Bilow [1], our slab track system can be classified as a two-slab layer system: a precast reinforced concrete plate and a concrete base, separated by a cement-asphalt-mortar sandwich layer. The entire slab track structure and the soil sub-base are modelled as three-dimensional solid elements, the UIC60 rail represented as truss elements is attached to the surface slab through the fastening devices. A three-slab track system is modelled to reduce the boundary effects, though we only focus on the response of the central slab. Modal analysis is performed to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the system. A high-speed train pulse is applied to the rail to carry out the transient analysis. Most unfavorable nodes or regions are identified for cycle counting [2], meanwhile the number of cycles causing fatigue failure at each stress level is estimated according to the new FIB Model Code [3]. A map of fatigue damage is calculated following the Miner's rule.

1

S.D. Tayabji, D. Bilow, "Concrete Slab Track State of the Practice", Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1742, 87-96, 2001. doi:10.3141/1742-11

2

S.D. Downing, D.F. Socie, "Simple Rainflow Counting Algorithms", International Journal of Fatigue, 4, 31-40, 1982. doi:10.1016/0142-1123(82)90018-4

3

FIB-Fédération Internationale du Béton, "FIB 2010 new model code, Chapter 5: code-type models for concrete behavior (draft)", 2010.

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