Evaluation of the Applicability of 50 N Rails to Sharp Curves on Mountain Railway Tracks

Abstract

Currently, a mountain railway system using existing mountain roads is being developed in Korea. Considering the alignment of domestic mountain roads with many sharp curves, the maximum radius of curvature of the mountain railway is about 10 m. Therefore, the 50 N rail applied to the track structure of the mountain railway must be manufactured with a radius of curvature of 10 m at the factory. In this study, the material properties of 50 N Rails were analyzed through indoor tests and the behavioral characteristics according to bending processing (R = 10 m) were analyzed to evaluate their applicability to sharp curves on mountain railways.

Evaluation of Structural Stresses of Mountain-Embedded Railway Systems

“…Existing automobile roads are adapted in constructing mountain railways to minimize their environmental impacts. For this purpose, an embedded rail system (ERS) for mountain railway tracks is currently being developed [1][2][3]. As shown in Figure 1, an ERS is a composite concrete railway track system in which rails are affixed to a concrete track using synthetic resin, and rack rails are installed at the center of the affixed to a concrete track using synthetic resin, and rack rails are installed at the center of the concrete panel.…”

“…However, only a few cases exist wherein ERSs have been applied to mountain railway systems, and research on the safety profile and behavioral responses of ERS on installed rack rails has been limited. Mountain-ERSs, with respect to this project, are underresearched [1][2][3]7]. A study has been conducted on the application of precast concrete panels in high-gradient mountain railways [1].…”

“…In this study, the cant, radius, and length of the planar, as well as transitional, longitudinal, and slack curves, were investigated based on the performance and specifications of the Korean mountain railway. In [3], the applicability of 50-kg rails to sharp curves on mountain railway tracks was evaluated. In this study, the material characteristics and residual stress of a 50-kg rail were evaluated and quantified based on experimental and finite element method analyses of rails according to the bending process.…”