ON VERTICAL ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY TRACK VIBRATIONS

The paper herein presents a vertical vibration analysis of the ballasted track using a new model of the periodic support of the rail that improves the prediction of the rail response for both low and high frequencies. The model of the periodic support consists of two three-directional Kelvin-Voigt systems for the rail pad and the ballast, and a mixed Kelvin-Voigt/Maxwell system for the subgrade. Also, the inertia of the sleeper and the ballast block are introduced. The rail response due to a stationary and moving harmonic load is analyzed by applying the Green’s functions method. The influence of the rail pad stiffness and of the Doppler effect on railkway track vibrations are presented.