Chuadchim Pimsuda, Ngamkhanong Chayut, Aela Peyman, Jing Guoqing, Kaewunruen Sakdirat
Advanced Railway Infrastructure, Innovation and Systems Engineering (ARIISE) Research Unit, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
GreenTech Nexus: Research Center for Sustainable Construction Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 1;15(1):11062. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-95354-7.
Elevated rail temperatures can induce axial compressive stresses in continuous welded rail (CWR). If the rail temperature exceeds critical limits, it leads to track instability and an increased risk of derailments. The focus on curved tracks is critical, as these are particularly susceptible to buckling under high temperatures. When trains approach these curves, additional multidirectional forces are introduced, exacerbating instability risks. This study investigates the nonlinear buckling behavior of curved railway tracks under elevated temperature, focusing on the combined effects of the cant and varying train speeds. Unbalanced train speed refers to the situation where a train travels at a speed that is either too fast or too slow for the design of the track's radius and cant. Such speeds introduce lateral forces that can compromise track stability. It can increase the risk of lateral displacement, especially when combined with increased temperature. These forces can result in complex, nonlinear buckling behavior, which remains insufficiently understood. To analyse these risks, we conducted a buckling temperature analysis using nonlinear three-dimensional finite element method (FEM), specifically tailored to curved railway tracks. Track variables such as radius, lateral resistance, cant, and initial misalignment were incorporated to comprehensively understand the thermal challenges faced. The results highlight the critical temperature thresholds at which buckling is most likely to occur and provide insights into how the temperature and train speed exacerbates track instability. These findings provide valuable guidelines for the design, maintenance, and train speed adjustments on curved tracks, enhancing safety and performance under extreme conditions.
铁轨温度升高会在无缝线路（CWR）中产生轴向压应力。如果铁轨温度超过临界极限，会导致轨道失稳，脱轨风险增加。关注曲线轨道至关重要，因为这些轨道在高温下特别容易发生屈曲。当列车接近这些曲线时，会引入额外的多向力，加剧失稳风险。本研究调查了高温下曲线铁路轨道的非线性屈曲行为，重点关注超高和列车速度变化的综合影响。列车速度不平衡是指列车行驶速度对于轨道半径和超高设计而言过快或过慢的情况。这样的速度会引入横向力，可能损害轨道稳定性。它会增加横向位移的风险，尤其是在温度升高时。这些力会导致复杂的非线性屈曲行为，对此仍了解不足。为了分析这些风险，我们使用专门针对曲线铁路轨道的非线性三维有限元方法（FEM）进行了屈曲温度分析。纳入了轨道半径、横向阻力、超高和初始偏差等轨道变量，以全面了解面临的热挑战。结果突出了最有可能发生屈曲的临界温度阈值，并深入了解温度和列车速度如何加剧轨道失稳。这些发现为曲线轨道的设计、维护和列车速度调整提供了有价值的指导方针，在极端条件下提高安全性和性能。
