Development of a Methodology to Calculate Stresses in Track Components

Abstract

The analytical model being used by Spoornet to calculate rail stresses on railway track for the past three decades was revisited and improved. The modifications include the incorporation of current best practices and presenting the engineer with guidelines on how to determine input parameters, which are normally difficult to obtain.

The most sensitive parameters were investigated, and experimental results, as well as modern modelling methods, were used to establish nominal input values and guidelines for determining such values.

The improved analytical model provides engineers with a suitably accurate tool for calculating rail and track component stresses, without the need to build detailed models of the track under investigation.