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MIDAS
Technical
Material

Tutorial
RAIL STRUCTURE INTERACTION

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Contents
 Step 1: Initial Setting
RAIL STRUCTURE INTERACTION
 Step 2: Material & Section Definition
In this tutorial we will learn the following things:
 Step 3: RSI Wizard- Modelling
- How to generate a bridge model for rail structure interaction using RSI wizard..
 Step 4: RSI Wizard- Layout
- How to simulate non-linear boundary conditions for ballast/slab
 Step 5: FCM Wizard- Section
- How to define moving load in Midas Civil
 Step 6: FCM Wizard- Boundary
- How to interpret the various results in the report generated by Midas Civil.
 Step 7: FCM Wizard- Load
- What are the different types of analysis considered for RSI
 Step 8: Types of analysis
- Discussion of various FAQs related to RSI
 Step 9: Analysis and report

 Step 10: Result interpretation

 Step 11: FAQ

Program Version Civil 2020 (v3.1)

Revision Date Mar 22, 2020

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RAIL STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

All the upcoming railway projects are using CWR/LWR rails and the existing rail lines are being converted to
LWR/CWR. All the bridges having CWR/LWR rails need to be checked for Rail Structure Interaction. Rail
structure interaction can be easily performed using Rail Track Analysis wizard.
• The wizard facilitates auto generation of rail track analysis model

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RAIL STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

• Fast modelling of multi span bridges using Wizard supporting multiple span types for parametric study, tapered
bridges, Rail Expansion joints, etc
• Automatic nonlinear boundary condition for ballast and concrete bed for loaded and unloaded condition.
• Auto-generation of model files for additional verifications whilst considering proper boundary conditions and
load cases
• Longitudinal relative displacement of deck and displacement due to bridge rotational angle
• Stress and displacement due to temperature gradient by ZLR (Zero Lateral Resistance) and REJ (Rail Expansion
Joints)
• Automatic report generation with strength and serviceability limit state checks

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00 Overview

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01 1 Initial Setting

Procedure
1 3
Invoke midas Civil
1
Open New File
2
Select the Unit System [ kN, m]
3
Save as ‘Three Span PSC Box Girder’

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02 2-1 Material & Section Definition – Material Definition

Procedure
1
Go to “Properties”
2
Click on “Material Properties”
3
Click on “Add” to define materials

Define Material data:

4
Name> C50/60
Type of Design: Concrete
Concrete Standard: EN04(RC)
DB: C50/60
5 on Apply
Click

6
Name > C40/50
Type of Design: Concrete
Concrete Standard: EN04(RC)
DB: C40/50
Click
7 on Apply

Name>
8 Tendon
Type of Design: Steel
Steel Standard: EN05(S)
DB: S355W
Click
9 on OK

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02 2-2 Material & Section Definition

1
Procedure
1
Change unit system [ N, mm ]
2
2
Go to “Properties”
3
3
(Creep/Shrinkage)”
4
Click on “Add” to define properties
5
Define Creep / Shrinkage data:
Name > C50/60
Code > EUROPEAN
Compressive strength of concrete at
the age of 28 days > 50 N/mm2 5
Relative Humidity of ambient 4
environment (40–99) > 70
Notational size of member > 1000mm
Age of concrete at the beginning of
shrinkage > 3 days 

6
Click on Show Result to see the graph
7
Click on OK to add the C&S property. 6 7

8
Repeat steps 5,6, 7 for C40/50
the age of 28 days > 40 N/mm
Note: To get the creep & shrinkage strains, the value of relative humidity is to be considered as 70%, Notational size of member, h as
2 1000mm and Age of concrete at the beginning of shrinkage as 3 days. Later, the h value would be automatically updated for compos-
ite sections

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02 2-3 Material & Section Definition

Procedure 1

1 Go to “Properties”
2
2
Click on “Comp. Strength”
3
Click on “Add” to define properties

4 Define Compressive Strength data:

Name > C50/60

Type > Code
Development of Strength > Code >
European 4
Mean compressive strength of concrete
at age of 28 days (fck+delta_f) > 50 +
10 N/mm2

 
5 Click on Redraw Graph

6 Click on OK

7 Repeat steps 4,5,6 for grade C40/50

Mean compressive strength of concrete at
age of 28 days (fck+delta_f) > 40 + 10
N/mm2

5 6

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04 RSI Wizard - Layout

Procedure 1
1
Go to “Properties” 2 4
2
Click on “Material Link”
5
3
Time Dependent Material Link Data

4 Creep/Shrinkage > C50/60

6
5 Comp. Strength > C50/60
6  Double click on C50/60 under
Materials to shift it to the Selected
Materials list
7 Click on “Add / Modify”
8 Repeat steps 4,5,6,7 for C40/50 7

9 Click on “Close”

Any time during the modeling, analysis 9

and design stage, invoking F1 key
takes you to web help.

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05 RSI Wizard - Section

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06 RSI Wizard - Boundary

1
Procedure
4
1
Change unit system [ KN, m ]
2 5
2
Go to “Properties” > Section
Properties” 6
3
Click on “Add..”
4
Click on tab “DB/User”
3
5 Section shape: Solid Rectangle
6 Type: User
Name > Pier
H> 1.5
B> 6.0

7
Click “Show Calculation Results”

8
Click on “OK”

7
8

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07 RSI Wizard - Load

1
Procedure
1 Change unit system [N,mm] 2
4
2 Go to “Load” of Main Menu
3
3
Click “Temp/Prestress”
4 Click “Tendon Property”
5 Click “Add”
6 Enter Tendon Name “Bottom”
6
Select Tendon Type “Internal(Post-
5
Tension”
Select Material “Tendon”
Click “…” in the dialog box for Total
Tendon Area
Select Strand Diameter “15.2mm(0.6”)”
Enter Number of Strands “10”
Click “OK”
Enter Duct Diameter “100”mm 7
Select Relaxation Coefficient “European
– Ordinary”
Enter Ultimate Strength “1860”
Enter Yield Strength “1581”
Enter Curvature Friction Factor “0.17”
Enter Wobble Friction Factor as
“2e-6”/mm
Enter Anchorage Slip Begin : “6”
Enter Anchorage Slip End : “6”
Select Bond Type “Bonded”
Click “OK”

Click “Close”
7

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08 RSI Wizard – Wizard option

1
Procedure
1 Change unit system [N,mm] 2
4
2 Go to “Load” of Main Menu
3
3
Click “Temp/Prestress”
4 Click “Tendon Property”
5 Click “Add”
6 Enter Tendon Name “top”
6
Select Tendon Type “Internal(Post-
5
Tension”
Select Material “Tendon”
Click “…” in the dialog box for Total
Tendon Area
Select Strand Diameter “15.2mm(0.6”)”
Enter Number of Strands “10”
Click “OK”
Enter Duct Diameter “100”mm 7
Select Relaxation Coefficient “European
– Ordinary”
Enter Ultimate Strength “1860”
Enter Yield Strength “1581”
Enter Curvature Friction Factor “0.17”
Enter Wobble Friction Factor as
“2e-6”/mm
Enter Anchorage Slip Begin : “6”
Enter Anchorage Slip End : “6”
Select Bond Type “Bonded”
Click “OK”

Click “Close”
7

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08 RSI Wizard – Wizard option

Procedure
3
1
Change unit system [N,mm]
2
Go to “Structure”
3
Click on “FCM Bridge Wizard”

FCM Bridge Wizard

4 Model tab 4
6
Material (Girder)>1: C50/60
Pier Section>1: Pier
Material (Pier)>2: C40/50
Stage Duration(12)
Number of Piers (2)
Method>Cast-in
Pier Table>P.T. (14); B (6)
Key Segment>K1(1); K2 (2)
Pier>H (20); C (4.2)
FSM>FSM(L) (1, 4@2)
FSM(R) (1, 4@2)
Zone1 (12@2)
Zone2 (12@2)
5
Click Pier Table Placing
P.T.>P.T. 2
6 Day ( 60); Press Define ; Press OK

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08 RSI Wizard – Analysis and report generation

Procedure
Depending on 3the moving load data and type of analysis selected the program will create
1
For temperature load case multiple model files for different loading positions for vertical load, breaking traction as
well as temperature. The results for all these files can be viewed in the program itself.
2
Open and analyze *.mcb with

“_Add3_ExpansionJoint_Str”

as its suffix
1
3
Click on “Results->Stresses->Beam

Stress Diagram”
4 Check on legend and press apply
2

Similarly results for other models

can also be viewed.

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09 RSI Wizard – Analysis and report generation

Procedure
1
Click on Member Age
2 Member Age

FSM : 60 days

Key Seg.: 10 days

Pier Table: 15 days

2
Segment: 5 days

Pier: 100 days

3
Press OK
3

The report generation option is available for Simplified separate analysis. In this case
the program automatically analyzes all the model files and compile the results in the
excel format for the users. However if complete analysis is selected as type of analysis
then the report need to be made manually.

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10 RSI Wizard – Types of analysis for RSI

Types of analytical methods for RSI

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10 RSI Wizard – Types of analysis for RSI

Types of analytical methods for RSI

Depending on the global structural system, the simplified separate analysis is a

conservative approach and results in greater stresses on the in the rail as compared to
the complete staged analysis..

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11 RSI Wizard – FAQs

How to model composite section or multi-girder system in RSI ?

The main idea behind RSI analysis is to find additional stresses in rail due to interaction
effect. So our main concern regarding the super structure modelling is to accurately
incorporate its stiffness in the model. . Hence, in case when the superstructure cannot
be defined directly in SW then it can be modelled in SPC and can be imported to SW.

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11 RSI Wizard – FAQs

How to model elastomeric bearing for RSI analysis?

In the program the bearing is modelled as an elastic link as shown above. To model the
bearing as an elastic link we need translational as well as rotational stiffness of the
bearing. Above shown is the calculation of stiffness of an elastomeric bearing. Similarly
the stiffness of other type of bearing can also be calculated.

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11 RSI Wizard – FAQs

How to model ballast for RSI?

The ballast has a varying stiffness as specified in UIC code. In UIC code the stiffness
of ballast is idealized by a bilinear curve. The ballast s modelled as a multilinear link in
the software due to its bilinear behavior. For that first the Force deformation curve is
defined as per the bilinear stiffness of the ballast and then assigned to the multi-linear
link as shown below..

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