Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Vehicular
Defects
Operational
Defects
Straight track
• Defective:-
o Cross-levels
o Alignment
o Gauge
o Joints
Curved track
• Improper super-elevation, curve radius & speed
• Unequal distribution of load on two rails
Railway tracks should be designed to suit the load & speed of
trains & should meet the safety and economic standards
Gradient
• Departure of track from the level
• Rate of rise or fall of track in the direction of movement
• Rising gradient & Falling gradient
Measurement of gradient
i. By extent of rise/fall in 100 units horizontal distance
ii. Horizontal distance travelled for a rise/fall in 1 unit
Gradient is 4 % or
2m
1 in 25
50m
Ruling Gradient
Momentum Gradient
Pusher or Helper Gradient
Gradients at Station Yards
Maximum gradient allowed on the track section
Decide the max. load that an engine can haul
Used for design purposes
Gentle slope is most desirable
Must be followed by a falling gradient
o For N.G. :-
o Maximum = 50 km/h
V - speed in km/h
R - Radius of curve in m
B. Transition curves are absent
o Speed is reduced by 20% i.e. (4/5) of speed calculated in Step-A
o For B.G. & M.G. :-
o For N.G.:-
R
D
Center of circular
curve
Curves with smallest radius & largest degree of
curvature are restricted on the basis of two factors:-
• Wheel base: If degree of curve is large than for the length
of wheel base which forms a chord of curve, vehicle does
not run freely round the curve and is liable to derailment
• Sharpness of curve: Greater effort is required on sharp
curves in hauling the vehicles than on straights
Super-elevation also increases with degree of curve
and should be limited to keep vehicles stable
Track Max. Degree of Curve, D () Min. Radius, R (m)
B.G. 10 175
M.G. 16 109
N.G. 40 44
Vehicle negotiating a curve is subjected to centrifugal
force acting radially outwards
Increases weight on outer rail
Provided to counteract the centrifugal force
Super-elevation (e) : Raising the level of outer rail
above the inner rail at a horizontal curve so as to
introduce centripetal force
Equalize the weight on either rail
Necessity of providing super-elevation on curves
• To counteract centrifugal force
• For faster movement of trains on curves
• Reduce wear and creep of rails
• Equal distribution of wheel loads on two rails
• To provide an even and smooth running track to ensure
comfortable ride to passengers & safe movement of goods
W = weight of vehicle, kg
v = speed of vehicle, m/s
V = speed of vehicle, km/h
R = radius of curve, m
G = gauge of track, m
g = acceleration due to gravity
= angle of inclination
S = length of inclined surface, m
Centrifugal force,
Resolving forces,
Put, G = 1.676 for B.G., 1.0 for M.G. & 0.762 for N.G.
Equilibrium Cant: When lateral forces and wheel
loads are almost equal, the cant is said to be in
equilibrium. It is provided on the basis of avg. speed
of trains.
Super-elevation should be provided in such a way
that faster trains may travel safely without the
danger of overturning or discomfort to the
passengers & slower trains may run safely without
fear of derailment due to excessive super-elevation
Equilibrium Speed or Avg. Speed for B.G. & M.G. Track
A. When max. sanctioned speed (Vmax > 50 km/h), avg. speed
is least of the below two:-
o Avg. speed = 0.75 x Vmax , subject to max. speed of 50 km/h
o Safe speed on curve given by Martin’s formula
B. When Vmax 50 km/h, avg. speed is least of below two:-
o Avg. speed = Vmax
o Safe speed on curve given by Martin’s formula
C. Weighted avg. equilibrium speed
th
Max. value of super-elevation is 1/10 of gauge
Super-elevation should be provided smoothly &
uniformly using transition curves
Super-elevation varies from zero at the beginning of
transition curve to full amount at junction of
transition curve & circular curve
Track Max. Super-elevation (cm)
B.G. 16.5
M.G. 10
N.G. 7.6
Difference between equilibrium cant necessary for
the max. permissible speed on a curve and the actual
cant provided
Cant deficiency is limited due to two reasons:
• Higher cant deficiency cause higher discomfort
• Higher cant deficiency cause extra pressure & lateral force
on outer rails
Track Max. Cant Deficiency (cm)
B.G. 7.6 cm
M.G. 5.1 cm
N.G. 3.8 cm
Max. permissible speed on curve is the minimum of
below:-
A. Max. sanctioned speed of the section
B. Safe speed over that curve given by Martin’s formula
C. Speed based on the consideration of equilibrium cant
D. Speed from the length of transition curve (L)
o For normal speed upto 100km/h