Railway transition zones: evaluation of existing transition structures and a newly proposed transition structure

This comprehensive study addresses the persistent issue of railway transition zone degradation, evaluating the efficacy of the most commonly used mitigation measures and proposing a novel Safe Hull-Inspired Energy Limiting Design (SHIELD) of a transition structure. Firstly, this work assesses the traditional transition structures, including horizontal and inclined approach slabs and transition wedges, using commonly studied responses (kinematic response and stress) and a recently proposed criterion based on total strain energy minimization. The second part of the paper evaluates the newly introduced transition structuress (SHIELD) using the same criterion as used for the evaluation of the traditional transition structures. A detailed investigation of existing and a new design using a 2-dimensional finite element model shows SHIELD’s effectiveness in managing energy flow at transition zones and provides reasoning behind the ineffectiveness of the other commonly used transition structures. The study demonstrates the robustness and comprehensiveness of the recently developed energy-based criterion and its applicability to different types of transition zones. Moreover, it highlights the potential of SHIELD as a solution to address the complexities associated with the design of railway transition zones.