Train-Track Interaction with Three-Axle Bogies considering Unsupported Sleepers

Gharaati, Omid; Azizi, Sajjad; Mosayebi, Seyed Ali; Elhamiyan, Soheila

doi:10.22068/ijrare.394

Volume 13, Issue 2 (6-2026) IJRARE 2026, 13(2): 49-63 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.22068/ijrare.394

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Gharaati O, Azizi S, Mosayebi S A, Elhamiyan S. Train-Track Interaction with Three-Axle Bogies considering Unsupported Sleepers. IJRARE 2026; 13 (2) :49-63
URL: http://ijrare.iust.ac.ir/article-1-394-en.html

Train-Track Interaction with Three-Axle Bogies considering Unsupported Sleepers

Omid Gharaati

, Sajjad Azizi

, Seyed Ali Mosayebi

, Soheila Elhamiyan

Assistant Professor, School of Railway Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (15 Views)

Hanging sleepers significantly amplify dynamic wheel-rail forces, accelerating track geometry deterioration. However, the structural response of ballasted tracks to alternating support-loss patterns, especially under heavy-haul freight vehicles with three-axle bogies, remains insufficiently understood. This study develops a fully coupled two-dimensional mathematical model to investigate dynamic train-track interactions under various spatial defect configurations. Using a 12-DOF vehicle system and a 496-DOF discrete-continuous track model, equations of motion were solved via the RK4 method. A binary state vector was employed to simulate localized ballast stiffness reductions within a five-sleeper block. Parametric analyses at a speed of 100 km/h demonstrate that an increase in the number of hanging sleepers does not necessarily exhibit a linear relationship with track deterioration; rather, the spatial concentration of defects plays a decisive role. The results indicate that the presence of a single hanging sleeper can increase the maximum vertical rail displacement by up to 62% compared to a healthy track. However, in alternating defect patterns, the rail bridging phenomenon over intermediate healthy sleepers prevents severe track deflection. In the most critical scenario (the alternating void pattern), the superposition of deformation fields leads to an 82% increase in the maximum vertical rail displacement. The findings of this study can be utilized to determine precise indices for prioritizing maintenance and repair operations in heavy-haul railway corridors based on the spatial distribution map of defects.

Keywords: Unsupported Sleeper, Dynamic Train-Track Interaction, Ballasted Railway Track, Alternating Void Patterns, Heavy-Haul Freight Vehicle

Full-Text [PDF 523 kb] (7 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Railway track and structures