Limiting High Speed Dynamic Forces on the Track Structure The Amtrak Acela Case
Date
2001-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Railway Engineering Association
Abstract
As vehicle operating speeds increase, the dynamic wheel/rail impact forces applied to the track structure likewise increase. This results in the potential for increased track degradation, component failure, and corresponding increased track maintenance costs. In the case of Amtrak's new generation high speed trains, a specific requirement for the design of the new equipment was to avoid any increase in dynamic forces applied to the track in spite of the increase in operating speed from 125 to 150 mph. In order to achieve this, and maintain (or possibly decrease) the dynamic wheel/rail forces, key equipment design characteristics, to include vehicle unsprung mass and suspension characteristics, were evaluated from this point of view. This report describes the process of examining alternative high-speed equipment designs from the perspective of the track structure and the level of dynamic force applied to the track. This includes the process used to evaluate the dynamic wheel/rail forces generated by both the older 125-mph equipment and the new generation high-speed (150-mph) equipment and the comparison between load levels. This also includes the methodology used to evaluate the potential for track damage (e.g. cracking of the concrete ties on the Northeast Corridor) associated with both the older equipment and the new high speed equipment.
Description
Keywords
Amtrak, Track degradation
Citation
Zarembski, A.M., Palese, J.W., & Bell, J.G., “Limiting High Speed Dynamic Forces on the Track Structure; The Amtrak Acela Case”, American Railway Engineering Maintenance Association Annual Technical Conference, Sept 2001.