• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2013

The components of concrete track (rail and rail fastening system) in railway bridge deck ends are damaged and deteriorated by track-bridge interaction forces such as uplift forces and compression forces owing to their structural flexural characteristics (bridge end rotation). This had led to demand for alternatives to improve structural safety and serviceability. In this study, the authors aim to develop a transition track to enhance the long term workability and durability of concrete track components in railway bridge deck ends and thereby improve the performance of concrete track. A time-history analysis and a three-dimensional finite element method analysis were performed to consider the train speed and the effect of multiple train loads and the results were compared with the performance requirements and German standard for transition track. Furthermore, two specimens, a normal concrete track and a transition track, were fabricated to evaluate the effects of application of the developed transition track, and static tests were conducted. From the results, the track-bridge interaction force acting on the track components (rail displacement, rail stress, and clip stress) of the railway bridge deck end were significantly reduced with use of the developed transition track compared with the non-transition track specimen.