Influence of different factors related with the train-bridge interaction system in the stability of high-speed trains subjected to strong winds
Palavras-chave:
train running safety, train-track-bridge interaction, high-speed railway bridges, wind loads, bridge lateral flexibility, track conditionResumo
Strong crosswinds are one of the most critical sources of excitation that may impact with the train
runnability and safety. However, there are a significant number of characteristics related with the train-bridge
system that are rarely addressed which may influence the train’s performance when subjected to this kind of
actions. The present work aims to fill this gap, by individually studying the impact of such characteristic, such as
the bridge lateral stiffness and the track condition, in the runnability of high-speed (HS) trains moving over bridges
subjected to crosswinds. The Arroyo de Las Piedras Viaduct, a high pier viaduct belonging in the Spanish HS
network, was used as case study. The study concluded that the bridge’s lateral behavior has a negligible impact in
wind-induced derailments, while the track condition, considered in this work with four quality levels, proved to
significantly influence the train’s running safety, especially at higher speeds. This is due to the fact that the Nadal
and Prud’homme indexes strongly depend on the wheel-rail lateral impacts, which become more pronounced for
higher speeds and under poorer track conditions.
