Innovative requirements and evaluation methods for slab track design
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2024

With increasing train speeds and reduced time windows for maintenance work, the interest in the application of slab track technology to increase the capacity of high-speed railways has grown. Slab track may still be considered a relatively young technology, but with several different designs available on the market. Current research on slab tracks commonly focuses on improved methods. In contrast, the formulation of requirements, and evaluation towards these, are seldom investigated. In this paper, state-of-the-art simulation models are employed to illustrate and address the needs for innovative requirements in terms of structural integrity and robustness, life cycle cost (LCC) and environmental footprint of new and existing slab track designs. Based on demonstration examples, it is argued that current standards may lead to overly conservative designs inducing higher LCC and environmental footprint than necessary. Extensions of the standards in terms of LCC and environmental footprint are suggested. The conflict of interest between structural integrity and robustness, LCC and environmental footprint is discussed, and suggestions for how to optimise slab track structures are proposed.

requirements

Slab track

life cycle analysis

structural design

life cycle cost

ballastless track

Författare

Emil Aggestam

Trafikverket

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Dynamik

Anders Ekberg

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Dynamik

Jens Nielsen

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Dynamik

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit

0954-4097 (ISSN) 20413017 (eISSN)

Vol. 238 6 651-661 09544097231218297

Driving research and innovation to push Europe's rail system forward (IN2TRACK3)

Europeiska kommissionen (EU) (EC/H2020/101012456), 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Trafikverket (2021/19114), 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Drivkrafter

Hållbar utveckling

Styrkeområden

Transport

Ämneskategorier

Infrastrukturteknik

Tillförlitlighets- och kvalitetsteknik

DOI

10.1177/09544097231218297

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2024-06-29