Slab track: Review of existing systems and optimization potentials including very high speed

Gautier, Pierre-Étienne

doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03.102

Cited by 134 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Here, the train speed is up to 160 km/h, and the axle load is 225 kN. In addition, a track with this type of structure is operated in Austria (1992, 230 km/h, 250 kN) and Switzerland (160 km/h, 225 kN/per axis) since 1995 [1].…”

Section: On Supporting Points (With or Without Sleeper)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, fundamental extension or change of classification is possible in case of creation of new structures. In principle, all slab track structures are divided into "single-track fastening at different points" and "continuous track fastening" [1,6,9,10,15]. This classification may be extended by adding a third group of structures that are currently going through the design and creation process.…”

Section: Development Of Slab Track Structures: Evaluation Of Advantagmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Operation stops, which are needed to enable repair work, are difficult to anticipate in case of an intensive train operation schedule. Nevertheless, research activities are under way to develop a model for a thorough LCC analysis that would make it easier to choose between ballastless and ballasted track structures [1,2]. According to S.Tayabji, [3] "for slab track to be selected for new track construction or track renewal, the following requirements must be met: -the slab track system must be capable of being constructed using a combination of existing track concrete pavement construction technologies -the fastener system must be economical to install, it must have adequate strength and a long service life; the slab track must be practical to maintain and repair -the life cycle cost of the slab track system must be equal to or lower than that of the conventional ballasted track.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The need and benefit of slab track: case of Lithuania

Lakušić¹

2017

JCE

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Section: On Supporting Points (With or Without Sleeper)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Development Of Slab Track Structures: Evaluation Of Advantagmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The need and benefit of slab track: case of Lithuania

Lakušić¹

2017

JCE

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“…In general, the need to make the track suitable to withstand increased stresses requires an accurate design (considering advantage and disadvantages of competing track solutions) and includes enhanced maintenance concepts for ballasted tracks, new or improved construction methods for slab tracks [Esveld, 2001;Gautier, 2015]. Therefore, since the early stage of inception, it is important to take into account the various phases of the life cycle (design, construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Issues and Perspectives in Railway Management from a Sustainability Standpoint

Praticò¹,

Giunta²

2017

dtetr

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ABSTRACT:In this paper a method is set up for assessing the best strategy for the management of a railway infrastructure over time. A model to evaluate the total costs of competing track alternatives in a long-term perspective is proposed. Tangible and intangible costs, as well as internal (e.g., agency and user costs) and external costs (CO2-related, etc.) are considered. Life cycle costs are estimated based on agency, environmental, and user present values. The detailed analysis of the costs over the entire life of the track allows assessing the trend of agency (AC, e.g., construction, maintenance and renewal), user (UC, e.g., delays, etc.), and externality (EC, e.g., related to CO2e emissions, etc.) costs of the alternatives. An application of the proposed method is carried out comparing two track alternatives (ballasted vs. ballast-less). The trend of total present values (TPV) shows that solutions more affordable in the short time can yield maintenance and renewal processes which are economically unfavourable. Furthermore, not only the breakeven point (ballast-less versus ballasted present values) is very far from the construction time but also the "distance" between the TPV of the two solutions becomes too small to yield sound conclusions in favour of one solution.

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“…The tracks are therefore subjected to a wide range of bearing and bending stresses in the rails, pads, fasteners, sleepers/slabs, ballast and subgrade due to: i) the static mass of the vehicles; ii) the dynamic actions, such as lateral centrifugal forces on curves, longitudinal acceleration and braking forces; iii) vertical inertial forces from the motion of the wheel-set and its suspension, vibrational forces induced from imperfections in the rail surface (corrugations, joints, welds, defects) and in the wheels (flats and shells); iv) the dynamic response of the track components to above actions (Tzanakakis [1]). The need to make the track suitable to withstand these stresses requires an accurate design and includes enhanced maintenance concepts for ballasted track, new or improved construction method for slab track (Esveld [2,3], Gautier [4]). The ballast-less slab track systems seem to be suitable to the aim, especially in rail lines in which high-speed passenger trains share track with freight trains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the sustainability of design and maintenance strategies for rail track by means of life cycle cost analysis

Praticò¹,

Giunta²

2016

WIT Transactions on the Built Environment

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According to the European vision for transport, the increase of train speed (especially for passenger traffic) and axle load, interoperability (technical compatibility of infrastructure, rolling stock, signalling and other subsystems of the rail system), and the increase of axle load are relevant goals to achieve in the future. The above goals interact with the following challenges: making infrastructure more reliable and resilient, keeping pace with the growing mobility requirements, reducing the impact of infrastructure on the environment (carbon footprint), maintaining and upgrade deteriorating transport infrastructures (renewal processes), applying innovative track design and materials. Ballast-less, slab track systems seem to be suitable to the aim, especially when high-speed passenger trains share the track with freight trains, although ballasted track is still widely used in high-speed lines. In light of the above, the study described in this paper aims at setting up a method for assessing the best strategy for the design and management of a railway track over time (maintenance and renewal), considering a long-term perspective and tangible and intangible costs. For both traditional ballasted and innovative slab tracks, life cycle costs are estimated based on agency (construction, inspection, maintenance and renewal), environmental (CO 2 emission), and user (delays-related etc.) present values. The trend of agency, user, and externality costs of the alternatives over the entire life cycle of the infrastructure allows recognizing the most sustainable solution. Results show that solutions that are reasonably priced in the short term can yield maintenance and renewal processes which are unfavourable or less sustainable in the long term. Furthermore, which may impact public opinion and overall judgment, the "distance" between the (total) present value of the ballasted or ballast-less options

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Slab track: Review of existing systems and optimization potentials including very high speed

Cited by 134 publications

References 5 publications

The need and benefit of slab track: case of Lithuania

The need and benefit of slab track: case of Lithuania

Issues and Perspectives in Railway Management from a Sustainability Standpoint

Assessing the sustainability of design and maintenance strategies for rail track by means of life cycle cost analysis

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