• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.326-333
• /
• 2008

This study is objected by presenting preliminary data to revise the periodic replacement criteria of continuous welded rail (CWR) in using. In this study, it is investigated information resources for foreign standards, the cause and types of damage in welded rails and the track maintenance history of Seoul metro to analysis the correlation between rail failure and accumulated passing tonnage. Also, it is performed bending test for the laid welded rail reaching the periodic replacement criteria. In result, the correlation between rail failure and accumulated passing tonnage is not obvious and it is a lot of cases for the construction error of welded rail. Also, as a result of bending test of laid welded rail, according to reducing about $17{\sim}18%$ the bending fracture strength of rail, the laid welded rail reaching the periodic replacement criteria is well enough ensured for the load carrying capacity of rail.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.1191-1198
• /
• 2015

In this study, vehicle/track interaction analysis by the Saemaul powered vehicle was carried out. The prediction equation for the bending stress of rail was estimated using the rail bending stress by the rail surface irregularities at welds. Also, the fatigue analysis using a S-N curve of welds in the conventional railway was carried out. We estimated the fatigue life of CWR by the fracture probability. By the rail grinding, the fatigue life of CWR was evaluated in consideration to reduce the rail bending stress through removing the rail surface irregularities. Therefore, it presented the fatigue life of CWR according to the rail grinding execution plan in the conventional railway.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2014

In this study, fatigue tests on existing continuous welded rail (CWR) on a concrete track were carried out. Based on the test results, a S-N curve expressing the remaining life of the CWR at a fracture probability of 50% was obtained using weighted probit analysis suitable for small-sample fatigue data sets. As rails had different histories in terms of accumulated passing tonnage, the test data were corrected to average out the accumulated passing tonnage. The remaining service life for the CWR on the concrete track in an urban railway was estimated using the prediction equation for the bending stress of rail developed in the past to estimate rail base bending stress and taking the surface irregularities into consideration. Estimating the remaining service life of the CWR in an urban railway showed that the rail replacement period could be extended over 200MGT. In addition, comparing the concrete track to the ballast track, the fatigue life of rail was analyzed as approximately 300MGT higher than. Therefore, the rail replacement criteria needs to distinguish between the ballast track and the concrete track, and not the criteria needs to be changed as a target for the maintenance, although it is necessary to remove longitudinal rail surface irregularities at welds by grinding.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.988-992
• /
• 2011

The buckling characteristics of the continuous welded rail track(CWR) is uncertainly varied by many influence factors, such as rail temperature, operating conditions of a train and maintenance of the track etc. Therefore, applying the probabilistic approach method is essential to rationally consider uncertainty and randomness of the various parameters that affect the track buckling. In this study, the probabilistic approach analysis was carried out and the results were compared with the deterministic approach using the buckling probability evaluation system of CWR tracks developed by our research team. From the comparison, it was identified that a probabilistic approach can quantitatively assess the reliability of the CWR tracks based on failure probability and can be used as a tool for decision making in track design, maintenance and operating etc.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.423-426
• /
• 2011

The excessive axial load occurred in an immovable zone of continuous welded rail(CWR) tracks threatens the security of running trains due to the track buckling in extreme hot summer. The influence factors, such as rail temperature for compressive stress, ballast resistance for track stiffness and initial imperfection of track for tracks irregularity are uncertain track parameters that are randomly varied by climate conditions, operating conditions and maintenance of track etc. So, buckling of CWR tracks has very high uncertainties. Therefore, applying the probabilistic approach method is essential in order to rationally consider the uncertainty and randomness of the various parameters. In this study, buckling sensitivity analysis was carried out with respect to the characteristics of probability distribution of lateral ballast resistance using the buckling probability evaluation system of CWR tracks developed by our research team.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.28-33
• /
• 2017

A sharp curved ballasted track on earthwork that was connected with a direct fixation slab track on steel box railway bridges have been deformed and damaged despite the frequently maintenance by a restoring force of sharp curved rail and track-bridge interaction forces such as axial forces and longitudinal displacement of continuous welded rail(CWR) owing to their structural characteristics, calling for alternatives to improve the structural safety and track irregularity. In this study, the authors aim to prove a cause of deformation for the sharp curved ballasted tracks to enhance the structural safety and track irregularity of ballasted track in service. A track-bridge interaction analysis and a finite-element method analysis for the sharp curved ballasted track were performed to consider the axial force and longitudinal displacement of CWR, the temperature and the effect of restoring force of sharp curved rail. From the results, the deformation of the sharp curved ballasted track with adjusted sleeper spacing from 833mm to 590mm were significantly reduced.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2012

Considerable longitudinal rail forces and displacements may develop in continuous welded rail (CWR) track on long-span bridges due to temperature variations. The track stability may be disturbed due to excessive relative displacements between the sleepers and ballast bed and the accompanied reduction in frictional resistance. For high-speed tracks, however, solving these problems by installing rail expansion devices in the track is not an attractive solution as these devices may cause a local disturbance of the vertical track stiffness and track geometry which will require intensive maintenance. With reference to temperature, two actions are considered by the bridge loading standards, the uniform variation in the rail and deck temperature and the temperature gradient in deck. Generally, the effect of temperature gradient has been disregarded in the interaction analysis. This paper mainly deals with the effect of temperature gradient on the track-bridge interaction with respect to the support reaction, rail stresses and stability. The study presented in this paper was not mentioned in the related codes so far.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 1999.05a
• /
• pp.442-449
• /
• 1999

Due to temperature variations, considerable longitudinal rail forces and displacements may develop in continuous welded rail(CWR) track on long-span bridges or viaducts. Excessive relative displacements between sleepers and ballast bed may disturb the stable position of the track in the ballast which results in a lower frictional resistance. Generally, these problems are solved by installing rail expansion devices. However the application of expansion devices in high-speed tracks on existing bridges, as a means to prevent excessive longitudinal displacements and forces, is not attractive method due to comfort, safety and maintenance aspects. An alternative and very effective solution is possibly the use of so-called zero longitudinal restraint(ZLR) fastenings over some length of the track. The calculations, carried out in this respect, show a considerable reduction of track displacements, track forces, and the relative sleeper/ballast displacements. This reduction depends on the length over which these fastenings are installed. In this paper calculations of the longitudinal displacments and forces in a CWR track and substructure resulting from thermal, mechanical and kinematical loads were carried out using the FEM analysis program LUSAS

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2000.05a
• /
• pp.415-422
• /
• 2000

The Seoul Subway Line 4 crossing downtown diagonally constructed in February 1980 and opened on October 11, 1983. The line 4 is thus able to link southern and northern parts of Seoul with the downtown as well as with the Seoul outskirts. More than 810,000 people use it everyday. Line 4 was constructed like Line 1,2,3 with ballast track system causing much maintenance cost gradually and espicially much public discontent due to wheel and rail contact noise by railway viaduct with sharp curves. CWR on railway viaduct with sharp curves, 180m$\leq$R$\leq$300m, hasn't been designed and constructed ever in domestic. Therefore in order to reduce noise and vibration caused by interaction between wheel and rail the possibility and the methods of CWR(Continuous Welded Rail) on railway viaduct with sharp curve less than R300 will lead it to the maintenance free system.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 1998.11a
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 1998

Recently, continuous welded rail (CWR) track has been adopted for railway track structure of great advantages of reducing maintenance costs, and of increasing life time of track components and the comfort of passengers. But, in this case, a temperature or mechanical load will result in high stress and the track breakage or buckling may occur Especially when the CWR is laying on the bridge structure, the relative displacement of these structure can be increased and this results in the instability of track. In this paper, the main factors affect on the longitudinal rail force are discussed and the computer program is developed for the analysis of rail force considering the interactions with sub-structure.