ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

ADDIS ABABA INSTITUITE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF CIVIL & ENVIROMENTAL ENGINEERING

1. The following speed profile (shown in table 1) is recorded on the Addis-Adama

double track railway line per day. Standard gauge line S=1500 mm, 800m minimum
radius and permissible uncompensated lateral acceleration is 0.4 m/s 2 are provided
on curved alignment of the line.
Given: R=800m, S= 1500mm, a= 0.4m/s2
V
(Km/hr N V2 NV2 NV
)
115 2 13225 26450 230
110 2 12100 24200 220
100 8 10000 80000 800
90 6 8100 48600 540
80 10 6400 64000 800
28
24325 259
0 0

 The two weighted average values 93.2 and 92.5km/h are almost the same!
However, let us take the first case! To calculate the corresponding geometric
components.

a) Calculate the maximum superelevation of outer rail, Va

h=11.8V2R=11.893.212800
h=128.12mm>equilibrium cant

When the allowable uncompensated lateral acceleration a is considered,

11.8V2R-h<153a=>11.8V2R-153a<h

11.8×93.212800-153×0.4<h

h>67mm

From the two, the maximum superelevations can be 128 mm for the average
speed. However, the maximum value will be obtain from maximum speed.
Minimum speed,

Vmin=hR11.8=67*80011.8=67.4km/h

b) If the allowable maximum cant excess is 40 mm and, what will be the

corresponding permissible speed at curve sections of the line?
The maximum speed for the given cant exess limit,

Vmax=h+heR11.8=128+40*80011.8=106.72km/h
The 128 mm cant is by the average speed, from the daily speed records the top speed is
115 km/h, the corresponding cant is

h=11.8*1152800=195mm

The corresponding maximum speed then,

Vmax=h+heR11.8=195+4080011.8=126.24km/h…………Ans

2. For the ballasted track show below in figure 1, axle load is 22 tones and sleeper
spacing (s) 600 mm and P1, P2 and P3 are wheel loads. The vertical deflection
profile of the track is given by the curve equation;

yx=-0.01Pu.e-0.01x[cos0.01x+sin0.01x]

a) Calculate the track modulus (u)

u=Ps=11*10*1000600=183.3Nmm/mm …… ANS

b) If sleeper no. 3 supports 40% of single wheel load (P2), what will be the
corresponding vertical deflection?

yx=-0.01Pu.e-0.01x[cos0.01x+sin0.01x]

The deflection, at sleeper no. 3 becomes, x=0

 y0=-0.01Pu*1=-0.01*11*10000183.3*0.4=2.4mm

c) For multiple load cases, calculate the amount of load supported by all sleepers
and vertical deflection of sleeper of sleeper No.3.

Figure 1: Longitudinal section of track

yx=-0.01Pu.e-0.01x[cos0.01x+sin0.01x]

Due to P1:
X=120mm
Y(2)=
3. Axle load=24 tones, tie spacing, s=600mm and track modulus, u=300KN/m, The vertical deflection

profile; yx=-20Pu.e-0.02x[cos0.02x+sin0.02x]mm

x- Longitudinal distance, m
P- Wheel load, kN
u- Track modulus, kN/m [12%]
d) Total deflection of sleeper No. 3 for the wheel load configuration in fig.1.

Fig. 1: Longitudinal section of track

Solution:
Given: axle load 24tones, tie spacing, s=0.6m, Modulus, u=300KN/m
Step 1: Vertical load analysis
Axle load is 24 tones, use g=10m/s2

 The wheel load is P=Axle load2=24tones2=12tones×10ms2=120kN [1%]

(This is the maximum static wheel load due to single axle load)
Step 2: determine the deflection due to the multiple wheel load configuration as shown in fig.1

 By using the deflection equation: yx=-20Pu.(e-0.02x)[cos0.02x+sin0.02x]

 The deflection of the track at sleeper no. 3 is the superposing of all deflections due to the wheel
load configuration take sleeper No. 3 as a reference, then


Wheel Load x (m) Deflection y (mm)
P, @1 1.2

y1.2=-20×120kn300kNm×e-0.02×1.2 (sin0.02×1.2+cos(0.02×1.2))

y1.2=-7.81mm [2%]

P, @3 0

y0=-20×120kn300kNm×e-0.02×0 1=-8mm

P, @6 1.8

y1.8=-20×120kn300kNm×e-0.02×1.8 (sin0.02×1.8+cos(0.02×1.8))

y1.2=-7.72mm

Total Deflection at sleeper No. 3

(7.81+8+7.72)=23.53mm----
 e) U= 500KN/m & ymax=10mm, the permissible wheel load, P can be obtained as follows (note: in

this case x=0m)

ymax=10mm (it is negative downward deflection)

-10mm=-20×P500kNm×e-0.02×0 (sin0.02×0+cos(0.02×0))

P=250kN-----Ans

Therefore, the track can sustain a maximum of 250KN or 25tone wheel load for the
given modulus and deflection. (This implies the track is very stiff)
f) Lateral (H) to vertical (V) force ratio is 0.75,

HV≤0.75

=>from the first load analysis we know the vertical wheel load is 120kN.

H120kN≤0.75
 H≤120×0.75=90kN-----Ans

4. s=70cm, sleeper width = 22cm, Theoretical stress distribution 45o and 1inch = 2.54cm

a) Minimum depth of the ballast;

Therefore, h=48cm2=24cm

h=24cm2.54cm=9.45inch--Ans

c/c spacing between sleepers

=70cm-2×22cm2=48cm
b) Ballast contact pressure, Pa given; Ps=36psi, h= 9.45in, h=16.8PaPs45 (in),

h54=16.8×Pa36→Pa=36×9.451.2516.8

Pa=35.5psi-----Ans

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