Spatial temperature characteristics of CRTS III slab track of railways on plateaus

With the construction of railways on plateaus, the slab tracks of railways are facing rigorous temperature challenges and adverse thermal effects. This paper analyzed the temperature field and thermal effects of the CRTS III slab track on plateaus. Firstly, the pivotal thermal parameters of the geotextile and rubber pad of the slab track were obtained by tests. Subsequently, a coupled thermal-fluid-solid model for the CRTS III slab track on plateaus was established, followed by experimental validation. Based on the model, the temperature field and thermal effects of the slab track on Tibetan Plateau were revealed. The main conclusions are as follows: the thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and heat flux of the rubber pad and geotextile were very small, resulting in poor heat conductivity. The temperature of the track on plateaus showed obvious non-uniformity along both lateral and vertical directions, and changed with time significantly. Compared with that on the plain, the CRTS III slab track on the plateau had low temperature and large temperature variations. Compared with the conventional simplified temperature load, the spatial temperature field can fully reflect the non-uniform thermal effects of the slab track on plateaus. The method and conclusions presented in this paper can provide scientific guidance for the construction, operation, and maintenance of railways on plateaus.