The Dynamic Response of Railway Track With Unsupported Sleepers

The dynamic response of railway track with a section of unsupported sleepers is examined experimentally and a mathematical model of such track is presented. The principal function of ballast at frequencies above 100 Hz is to damp vibration of the track while the resilience of the railpad attenuates forces transmitted to the sleeper. In the absence of ballast, concrete sleepers are likely to crack if there are modest wheel or railhead irregularities.