Analysis of structural stresses of tracks and vehicle dynamic responses in train-track-bridge system with pier settlement

Pier settlement causes deformation of bridge structures, and further distorts the track structures placed on bridge decks, which may greatly affect the service life of the tracks and safe operation of trains. This study analyzes track stresses and vehicle dynamic responses in train-track-bridge system with pier settlement and determines the pier settlement safe value for high-speed railways with China Railway Track System (CRTS) II slab tracks. First, a detailed train-track-bridge dynamic model is established based on the train-track-bridge dynamic interaction theory. Verified with field experimental results, the model is utilized to calculate the dynamic responses of the vehicle-track-bridge system with different pier settlement values. Finally, the safe value of the pier settlement in the CRTS II slab track railway line is determined according to the limit of the vehicle dynamic indicators and the structural stresses of tracks. The results show that the vertical acceleration of the car body is more sensitive to pier settlement among all the vehicle dynamic indicators. Structural stresses of tracks caused by pier settlement appear at the positions of the pier with settlement and its two adjacent piers. The effect of train loads on the track stresses is much smaller than that of the pier settlement. It is important to adopt the structural stresses of tracks as the evaluation criteria of the pier settlement safe value than the vehicle dynamic indicators. Taking the effects of the bridge pier settlement, the vehicle load, the prestress effect, and the self-weight into consideration, the pier settlement safe value for the high-speed railway lines with the CRTS II slab track is 11.5 mm.