Abstract
A numerical model to predict train induced vibrations is presented. The dynamic computation considers mutual interactions in vehicle/track coupled system by means of a finite and discrete elements method. The vehicle is modeled by 7 bi-dimensional rigid elements representing: the body, the two boogies and the four wheels. The railway is discretized as finite Timoshenko beam elements. Axial deformation is assumed insignificant. The substructure is made-up of: rail-pads, sleepers, ballast, and background. Rail-pads are modeled as spring/damper couples without mass and sleepers are modeled as rigid elements. The rail-sleeper contact is assumed extended to a connection-area, rather than a single point assumption. To model this area many spring/damper couples are disposed along the length of sleepers. The ballast is modeled as blocks of mass made-up of rigid elements, connected to sleeper by spring/damper couples. To allow the transmission of vibrations in longitudinal direction too, spring/damper couples connect ballast elements horizontally.The dynamic interaction between the wheel-sets and the rail is accomplished by using the non-linear Hertzian model with hysteresis damping. The rail defects and the case of out-of-round wheels are considered too.A modal analysis of supporting structure is done to validate the substructure model comparing it to experimental data.Comparisons between numerical results of our model, experimental data and numerical results of others literature models are done on contact-force, rail accelerations and sleepers accelerations to validate the coupled vehicle/track system.Moreover a modal analysis of the coupled vehicle/track system is done to analyze the relationship between resonance frequencies, train velocities and ballast displacements.A sensitivity analysis is done to evaluate the variables more affecting the maintenance costs. The parameters more conditioning the ballast maintenance costs are the ballast modulus and the train mass.The effects of train velocity on the ballast displacements are analyzed in relationship with substructure properties. A new formulation to evaluate the railway toll connected to ballast wear is introduced.A new interpretation of the critical velocity in the range 100-300 km/h is proposed.