Seismic Response Analysis of An Interacting Train-Bridge System Considering Derailment

Abstract eng:
This paper investigates the seismic behavior of an interacting train-bridge system. The study models the three dimensional vehicle as a multibody assembly. Each component of the vehicle is a rigid body connected with springs and dashpots, representing the suspension system. The bridge is simulated using the finite element method. The practical nonlinear profiles of both the wheels and the rails are taken into account. The wheel-rail contact along the normal direction follows the principles of non-smooth mechanics. The calculation of tangential contact forces, including the lateral creep force, the longitudinal creep force and the pin moment, is based on the nonlinear creep theory. When the relative lateral displacement between the wheel and the rail exceeds the clearance under earthquakes, flange contact takes place. Based on the proposed interaction model, the scheme investigates the effect of the seismic induced vibration of the bridge to the safety of the train operation, especially the derailment of the wheel off the rail during earthquakes. If simulated properly, the multibody vehicle acts as a damper to the bridge system and reduces the pertinent response of the bridge. On the contrary, conventional seismic code seismic analysis of bridges considers trains as merely additional mass on the bridge and overestimates the response of the bridge. The results underline the importance of a realistic train-bridge-interaction during seismic response. The seismic induced vibration of the bridge has a significant adverse effect on the response of the vehicle above. The proposed contact model can capture the wheel-rail flange contact, the detachment, the uplifting and the recontact phenomena, under strong earthquakes.

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