Hydrodynamic Pressure and Velocity Distributions in the Interlayer Crack of Ballastless Track under High-Speed Train Load: A Theoretical Analysis

Abstract

In the abundant rain or poor drainage areas, there will be serious water damage existing in the interlayer of ballastless track. The essence of water damage of ballastless track is a dynamic development process of damage shape under the combined action of train load, hydrodynamic pressure, and flow velocity. In view of the distribution characteristics of hydrodynamic pressure and flow velocity in the interlayer crack of ballastless track under the high-speed train load, the simplified mechanics model for water and composite slab with interfacial crack is proposed in accordance with the water damage characteristics of ballastless track. Based on the conservation of mass and momentum theorem, the analytical expressions of water pressure and velocity in the saturated water crack were deduced. Similarly, the analytical expressions of water pressure and velocity in the unsaturated water crack were deduced by adding the state equation of ideal air. Considering that the water does not flow back timely, the analytical expressions of water pressure and velocity in another kind of unsaturated water crack were deduced. The results show that the hydrodynamic pressure and flow velocity in the interlayer crack are synthetically determined by multiple influencing factors such as fluid viscosity, load characteristic, crack shape, absolute pressure at the crack mouth, and initial volume of the air in the crack, and there is an intersecting phenomenon between influencing factors. When there is a small amount of air at the crack tip, the pressure and velocity distribution in the crack can be divided into three parts in terms of air-water interface and stagnation point. When the crack is filled with water, the hydrodynamic pressure tends to decrease along the direction of the crack mouth, and the distribution along the whole crack approximates to a cubic polynomial curve. Similarly, the flow velocity increases along the direction of crack mouth, and the distribution along the whole crack approximates to a quadratic polynomial curve.

Numerical and Experimental Research on Identifying a Delamination in Ballastless Slab Track

“…Compared to the conventional ballast track, the ballastless track has the advantages of high structural stability, good stiffness uniformity, long service life, and less maintenance work [2,3]. Nevertheless, the complex natural environment, rain erosion, train load, and thermal load may lead to the ballastless track bearing some structural diseases, such as cracks, air voids, and delaminations [4,5,6]. These diseases may not be easily recognized by visual investigation.…”