Floating slab track efficiency tests in Moscow underground

Abstract

The article deals with field tests of a floating slab track (FST) – a railway track structure used in Moscow underground. The upper track structure to be tested was erected in 1977 and consists of a concrete track slab with embedded wooden sleepers, rails R50 with “metro” fastenings and a series of rubber isolators, that support the concrete slab and transfer all the loads down to the tunnel casing. The aim of the test is to get substantial experimental data and understand its static and dynamic behaviour in order to use in further development and verification of FST’s design models. During the test under moving trains different load parameters are acquired: dynamic vertical and horizontal forces, rail & slab deflection and acceleration at different points on the slab and tunnel casing. On the basis of this multifactorial survey, verification data is acquired and weak points of the FST are investigated.