THE RAIL AS A BEAM ON A STIFFENING ELASTIC FOUNDATION

Conventional theory of rail track design is based on the assumption of a beam on a continuous linear elastic support. The presence of sleeper voids introduces a non-linear track load deflection response which is particularly pronounced on systems carrying 30 ton axle loads. An analysis has been conducted to compare the predicted rail stresses assuming a linear modulus derived from the load-deflection response with those obtained if a bi-linear analysis is adopted.