Real-time temperature field and thermal deformation of slab track on cable-stayed bridge

Abstract

This study aimed to master the real-time temperature fields of slab tracks on cable-stayed bridges and analyze the thermal deformations. The pivotal heat conduction parameters of the geotextile and rubber pad were obtained through testing, and the governing equations for heat conduction considering temperature variations were improved. A thermal-fluid-solid coupling model for slab track on cable-stayed bridge was proposed. The results indicated that the high temperatures of the track were concentrated within 0.05 m depth of the slab. Under the resistance of the isolation layer, the temperature on both sides of the geotextile isolation layer appeared obvious abrupt change. The time of maximum and minimum temperatures of the truss beam were the same as those of the air. The effects of real-time temperature change on the irregularity of the rail were obvious. In summer, the maximum vertical rail deformation was 201.88 mm and the transverse deformation was 17.87 mm. The temperature change in just one day caused vertical deformation of rail with a range of more than 60%. On a single day in summer, the maximum horizontal irregularity was 1.74 mm, which was less than the 2.0 mm specified in the code.

Keywords

• High-speed railway
• Slab track on cable-stayed bridge
• Thermal-fluid-solid coupling
• Temperature field
• Real-time thermal deformation