Investigating on Vehicle-Slab Track Interaction Considering Random track bed Stiffness

This paper deals with the modeling of a vertically coupled vehicle-slab track using finite element method. The slab track system is represented by a two layer Euler-Bernoulli beam model including rail and concrete slab. The vertical stiffness of track bed is assumed to be random variable using Monte Carlo simulation. The vehicle is simplified as a multi-body system with 10 degrees of freedom. The accuracy of the simulation is verified by deterministic and random approaches as well. Sensitivity analyses onthe various parameters such as slab thickness, coefficient of track bed stiffness, vehicle velocity are perofrmed. It is demonstrated that the uncertainty in track bed stiffness has a major effect on rail and slab deflections. From a practical point of view, the obtained results of the present study can be utilized efficiently in the analysis and design of slab track systems.