Effects of sleeper support modulus on dynamic behaviour of railway tracks caused by moving wagon

Up to now, the effects of sleeper support modulus on the dynamic behaviour of railway tracks have attracted little attention from researchers. So the current study is allocated to investigating the issue through numerical simulations and field tests. For vehicle/track finite element simulations, a wagon system with 10 degrees-of-freedom, including car-body, bogies and wheel-sets, is considered in conjunction with the ballasted track components. In ballasted track modelling, the rails are connected to sleepers with fastening systems and each sleeper is considered as a beam on the viscoelastic foundation. In the field tests program, the ballasted track response is measured under the moving wagon. Comparing the numerical and field test results, good agreement is observed. Finally using the validated numerical model, the effects of sleeper support modulus and sleeper Young's modulus are investigated on the dynamic behaviour of railway track and many practical equations are presented in this regard.