Research Proposal:

Mathematical Modelling of Impact based Particle Crushing due to Rail Imperfections

at high train speeds

Supervisors: Buddhima Indraratna (Engineering), Song-Ping Zhu (Mathematics) and

Martin Liu (Engineering), Grant Cox (Mathematics)

Introduction:
For rail to be the most economic and effective land transport, there is an ever
increasing demand for greater reliability of track for freight and passenger trains.
Ballast and sub-grade (formation soils) performance is a major contributor to track
stability and the annual cost of maintaining the track geometry.
Track instability can occur when railways are subjected to two common types of
loading (i) cyclic load and (ii) impact load due to wheel/rail imperfections (e.g. wheel
defect, rail dip, crossings and turnouts) and track abnormalities. Such impact loads are
relatively large in magnitude with high frequency contents and leads to noise,
vibrations and rapid deterioration of rail tracks. The deformation and degradation
behaviour of granular assemblies govern the stability of rail tracks. Under heavy
impact loads at railway crossings and turnouts, the concepts of fracture mechanics and
discontinuous rock mechanics play a conjunctive role in the prediction of track
efficiency. The mechanics of cyclic densification and associated particle attrition and
breakage have not been studied in detail. As a result, the maintenance of tracks has
become a very costly exercise for rail organisations worldwide. The proposed
research involves the study of load transfer from the wagon wheels to the ballast bed
and the associated deformations of the track under a combination of complex cyclic,
dynamic and impact loads.
Objectives:
a) To determine the correct impact load-transfer characteristics from the train
wheels to the ballast layer and to sub-soil foundation, via the structural
components of rail and sleeper assembly.
b) To evaluate the overall track deformations caused by the impact loads
including the sub-soil settlements, ballast breakage and rail buckling
c) To develop a comprehensive load-deformation model for rail tracks in
order to predict the track stability and its overall behaviour under high
speeds and heavy haulage.
Research methodology:
a) The use of Fourier series and other continuous mathematical functions to
simulate the correct impact load patterns applied by the passage of trains.
b) Use of large-scale physical modelling to simulate track behaviour under
impact loads in the laboratory.
c) Numerical modelling (eg. Finite Element and Distinct Element Analysis)
of the load-transfer mechanisms and track deformations, and compare with
laboratory observations.

Outcomes:
a) Comprehensive load-deformation system for accurate prediction of
composite structural behaviour of rail tracks.
b) Guidelines and specifications to improve existing design standards used in
railway engineering.