The influence of railway track micro- and macro-geometry on the railway track transverse stability

Abstract

The article considers the factors that affect the transverse stability of a continuous welded railway track. These factors are rail wear, train load and modes of train movement, and track irregularities, in particular, deviations in the plan, uneven distribution of temperature fields over the surface of the rail and in its cross-section. The research of the impact of train load on the transverse stability of the railway track is described in most detail. The article provides a rationale for the 3-D train design model for simulations in the “Universal mechanism” software package. A method of determining the recommended integration step by using spectral analysis techniques is proposed. The results of conducted studies of the impact of the train load on the transverse stability of the track are presented. In this case the train moves along the track sections with and without perturbations of the track microgeometry. The paper provides a method of calculating the additional transverse force that occurs when the train moves along a deviation in the plan. The author of the article proposes a method of determining the intensity of changes in the offset slope of the deviation in the plan, which allows one to determine which of the deviations is dangerous and requires additional constant monitoring. Further directions of research are indicated.