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International Journal of Railway Technology
ISSN 2049-5358
ISSN 2049-5358
IJRT,
Volume 1, Issue 3, 2012
Finite Element Vibration Analysis of Sleepers including Ballast Damping Characteristics
H. Sakai and A. Aikawa
Railway Dynamics Division
Railway Technical Research Institute
Tokyo, Japan
Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper
H. Sakai, A. Aikawa, "Finite Element Vibration Analysis of Sleepers including Ballast Damping Characteristics", International Journal of Railway Technology, 1(3), 37-59, 2012. doi:10.4203/ijrt.1.3.3
Keywords: concrete sleeper, ballasted track, finite element method, natural
vibration frequency, numerical simulation, damping, sleeper vibration acceleration.
Abstract
In this paper, we create and discuss a three-dimensional finite element model of a
pre-stressed concrete sleeper and relate this to the influence of ballast with springs,
based on experimental modal analysis of pre-stressed concrete sleepers on the ballast
layer. This model can express in detail both the natural vibration frequency
characteristics of sleepers and the damping characteristics of ballasts. Next, we
prepare structurally changing sleeper models, and then compare the differences
between the characteristics of standard sleepers and the characteristics of those with
structural modifications, using a transient response analysis of the difference
between the damping characteristic of frequency response analysis and transient
response analysis. In this analysis, we clarify the damping characteristics of impulse
waves, and through our results we obtain information to effectively design a new
type of sleeper, or improve some types of existing sleepers. Finally, we create short
track models which include rails, pads and fastening systems. We then investigate
differences between the frequency characteristics of a sleeper-only model and short
track models.
As a result, a wide sleeper is found to have the least vibration response with respect to both acceleration and the bottom pressure of the sleeper, and we clarify that we need to be attentive to a wide frequency domain to reduce sleeper vibration. In addition, the short track models indicate lower values at all frequency ranges, although almost all natural vibration frequencies of the track models are similar. It is thought that these results refer to the influence of restriction effects by track panels (track panel means the structure of the shape of a ladder which consists of rails and sleepers).
As a result, a wide sleeper is found to have the least vibration response with respect to both acceleration and the bottom pressure of the sleeper, and we clarify that we need to be attentive to a wide frequency domain to reduce sleeper vibration. In addition, the short track models indicate lower values at all frequency ranges, although almost all natural vibration frequencies of the track models are similar. It is thought that these results refer to the influence of restriction effects by track panels (track panel means the structure of the shape of a ladder which consists of rails and sleepers).
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