Abstract:
Railway tracks on earthworks with poor geotechnical performance may undergo important differential
settlements that amplify the dynamic response of the train–track system, inducing rapid track degrada-
tion, lower passenger comfort and higher derailment risk. Because the track substructure is normally
inaccessible, these problems are not detected early, are very complex to solve and disrupt normal train
operation. To study the influence of settlement profiles on the train–track system, the authors performed
a parametric study comprising non-linear dynamic analyses using a FEM model to simulate different sce-
narios. Some profiles caused important amplifications in the train–track system that were associated to
rapid track degradation and derailment risk, while others were associated to lower passenger comfort.
Hanging sleepers were found to be strongly associated to critical situations of track degradation. The
results were integrated and used in a framework to establish performance indicators that can be useful
for planning railway track maintenance works.
