Evaluation of the Track Superstructure of Lithuanian Railway Lines Calculating Characteristics of Strength

Abstract

Railway track is affected by rolling stock wheels, climatic factors, mostly temperature and fall, and inner tension, which originates in the elements, mostly rails, of the track superstructure, during manufacture, installation and maintenance. Railway track construction must assure resistance to these factors. Calculating railway track superstructure strength, minimal necessary construction strength is estimated, assuring that the rail will not break under the stress of temperature and loads of trains. Calculation of strength of railway track, considering type of the track superstructure, train load and train speed, estimates tension in the rails, tension under the fish plate, when sleepers are wooden (tension in the fish plate and concrete when sleepers are made of reinforced concrete), tension in the ballast under the sleepers and tension in the main platform of the trock formation. The main purpose of the article is to apply the strength calculation method in Lithuanian railway lines for existing constructions, considering their technical and running conditions, and estimate how technical and running conditions of the construction influence strength of the track. Also, recommendations about what should be taken into account while calculating and maintaining the track superstructure are presented. To execute the purpose, technical and running conditions of Lithuanian railway lines are briefly presented. The matter of calculation methodology, assumptions and formulas for calculation are presented as well. After calculation experiment obtained results and their analysis are described and discussed.