Abstract
The coefficient of derailment and the rate of wheel load reduction were used as the index of train running safety that was directly affected the train derailment safety. In aspects of track, the train running safety depends on the complex interaction between wheel and rail, and the track-vehicle conditions (i.e., the curvature, cant, track system, vehicle speed and the operation conditions, etc). In this study, the relationship between the train running safety and the track curvature and vehicle speed for direct fixation concrete tracks currently employed in Korean light rapid transit was assessed by performing field tests using actual vehicles running along the service lines. The measured dynamic wheel load, lateral wheel load and lateral displacement of rail head were measured for same train running on four tested tracks under real conditions, which included curved and tangent tracks placed on the tunnel and bridge, thus increasing the train speed by approximately maximum design speed of each test site. Therefore, the measured dynamic track response was applied to the running safety analysis in order to evaluate the coefficient of derailment, the rate of wheel load reduction and the track gauge widening at each test site, and compare with the corresponding Korean train running safety standard. As the results, the lateral track response of direct fixation concrete track appeared to increase with the decreased track curvature; therefore, it was inferred that the track curvature directly affected the train running safety.