Track‐Bridge Interaction: Influence of Transition Zone on the Stability of Continuous Welded Rail

Abstract Realization of high‐speed rail track demands continuous welded rail (CWR) to be laid on bridges without providing special expansion joints. In India, the existing rail bridges must be evaluated for their suitability for upgradation to CWR. CWR Inherently develops axial stress on account of the surrounding temperature changes. CWR in track‐bridge transition zone is subjected to additional stress and displacements as a result of track‐bridge interaction (TBI). Longitudinal thermal loading is a major source of rail stress and substructure forces due to TBI. Also, TBI results in accumulation of large compressive stress in transition zone. Further, the tamping effect in the transition zone by passing vehicles due to sudden change in vertical stiffness weakens the transition zone ballast. CWR is a slender steel element prone to buckling under large compressive stress. A numerical model is developed for track bridge interaction phenomenon in SAP2000 considering the aspect of CWR track buckling. In this study, the developed model is utilized to perform nonlinear buckling analysis to assess the influence of change in ballast stiffness on CWR stability in transition zone. Also, the influence of missing ballast contact raising from ballast subsidence locally in the transition zone was investigated. A single span simply supported steel bridge is considered. Longitudinal thermal loading is considered in this study. CWR supported on the ballasted track is considered. Material Nonlinearity associated with ballast is considered. Maintenance of CWR track is found to play a key role in track stability as the loose ballast or missing of ballast underneath the rail sleeper is to introduce discontinuity in CWR track support and reduces the critical buckling temperatures of the track considerably. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of track‐bridge interaction and the stability of CWR in the transition zone.