Design Optimization for Railway Transition Zones

Transition zones in railway tracks, which occur at changes in track form and or substructure properties, are known to cause issues with track degradation. Examples can be found where a track section, usually a ballast track, transits to a slab track to cross a roadway or waterway through supporting structures such as bridges, level crossings, and culverts. These changes in track form and properties cause an abrupt change in track support stiffness, which, in turn, generates additional dynamic forces when a vehicle passes by. Over time, the effect of dynamic impact leads to the development of differential settlement between the settlement-free supporting structures and the connecting track. This further increases loads and accelerates the degradation of the track through successive deterioration of track geometry and components....