Dynamical response of railway switches and crossings

Abstract

A procedure for the numerical analysis of the dynamic response during the passage of railway vehicles is described. The solution is based on the finite element method (FEM), which is used for the calculation of track stresses. An FEM model was used with a fine structure that included all components of switches and crossings, including movable parts. The excitation forces are defined on the basis of the assumed interaction between track and vehicle. The track stiffness defined by FEM analyses is used for the calculation of dynamic vertical and lateral wheel load. A special model of a railway vehicle was built with the aim of calculating the forces at points where abrupt stiffness changes occur, as well as geometrical imperfections in the frog structure.