Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IN2ZONE (The Next Generation of Railway Transition Zones)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-12-01 al 2022-05-31
Transition zones at railway tracks require special attention. When a train moves from an embankment towards a stiff structure such as a bridge, culvert and tunnel there is an abrupt change in support stiffness, which increases dynamic wheel loads and causes increased track stresses. At the same time, a differential settlement between the embankment track and structure starts to occur, generating differential track geometry. Sleepers start to lose support from the underlying layers leading to hanging sleepers due to differential settlement. This causes an unequal load distribution, which accelerates the rate at which tracks deteriorate. Thus, more frequent maintenance is needed to always keep the track geometry at desirable limits. Traditional maintenance techniques, such as tamping, are not applicable in transition zones where there is a sharp change from soft to stiff track sections, such as in the vicinity of bridges. Tamping is not practicable close to the bridges since lifting the track is not feasible. Self-correcting sleepers are therefore suggested in order to minimise the requirement for maintenance. They ensure constant support to the rails to provide a smoother transition.
Heavy railway traffic, high speed train passages and poor substructure conditions can lead to frequent maintenance activities, which causes more frequent line closures. A major source of track maintenance costs are the transition areas, as a high level of maintenance is required here to maintain the desired track geometry, ensuring passenger comfort, avoiding speed restrictions, and avoiding faster degradation of the constructions. The impact of changes in the stiffness of the track-supporting layers along the track should be minimised in transition zones, which should provide smooth train movement.
The IN2ZONE research project will develop and test a prototype next-generation transition zone system that will result in a significant improvement in track support conditions and fewer maintenance interventions. The new approach will integrate the most recent existing transition methods with technological advancements from other industries, especially recent material science discoveries. This multidisciplinary approach will improve both the track superstructure and substructure designs, guaranteeing that the overall system stiffness is improved. Advanced automatic irregularity correcting sleepers, synthetic and optimised for transition zones, will be designed to extend longevity. The transition zone solution will be able to self-correct minor vertical track geometry anomalies and defects as a result of this.
1. A thorough review on the scientific literature and technical specifications of transition zones to identify the key best practices and technological advances all around the world - completed, with amendments being made as and when new information comes to light;
2. WP3: Designing and manufacturing self-correcting sleeper solutions made of synthetic materials - completed with 3 designs identified for testing using preferred synthetic material, with significant cost and decarbonising benefits highlighted, which are to be fed into the Cost Benefit Analysis as part of final deliverable, D7.3;
3. Three- and two-dimensional numerical analysis of proposed sleeper models. The behaviour of the sleeper and the ballast for each transition zone solution - numerical models developed and refined as full-scale testing has progressed;
4. Designing and manufacturing a condition monitoring system for the proposed solutions and testing them in a large-scale testing setup - system design and lab-tested; due for testing on full-scale sleepers in the test rig as part of WP6, with subsequent live testing/data gathering planned on newly built bridge in Budapest, Hungary;
5. Large scale testing of the real scale sleepers under realistic train loading in a controlled laboratory environment to investigate the short- and long-term behaviour of the sleepers - currently underway with initial results being analysed and feedback to other WPs; and
6. Carrying out life cycle cost analysis and environmental impact study on the sleeper solutions - currently underway.
Heavy railway traffic, high speed train passages and poor substructure conditions can lead to frequent maintenance activities, which causes more frequent line closures. A major source of track maintenance costs are the transition areas, as a high level of maintenance is required here to maintain the desired track geometry, ensuring passenger comfort, avoiding speed restrictions, and avoiding faster degradation of the constructions. The impact of changes in the stiffness of the track-supporting layers along the track should be minimised in transition zones, which should provide smooth train movement.
The IN2ZONE research project will develop and test a prototype next-generation transition zone system that will result in a significant improvement in track support conditions and fewer maintenance interventions. The new approach will integrate the most recent existing transition methods with technological advancements from other industries, especially recent material science discoveries. This multidisciplinary approach will improve both the track superstructure and substructure designs, guaranteeing that the overall system stiffness is improved. Advanced automatic irregularity correcting sleepers, synthetic and optimised for transition zones, will be designed to extend longevity. The transition zone solution will be able to self-correct minor vertical track geometry anomalies and defects as a result of this.
1. A thorough review on the scientific literature and technical specifications of transition zones to identify the key best practices and technological advances all around the world - completed, with amendments being made as and when new information comes to light;
2. WP3: Designing and manufacturing self-correcting sleeper solutions made of synthetic materials - completed with 3 designs identified for testing using preferred synthetic material, with significant cost and decarbonising benefits highlighted, which are to be fed into the Cost Benefit Analysis as part of final deliverable, D7.3;
3. Three- and two-dimensional numerical analysis of proposed sleeper models. The behaviour of the sleeper and the ballast for each transition zone solution - numerical models developed and refined as full-scale testing has progressed;
4. Designing and manufacturing a condition monitoring system for the proposed solutions and testing them in a large-scale testing setup - system design and lab-tested; due for testing on full-scale sleepers in the test rig as part of WP6, with subsequent live testing/data gathering planned on newly built bridge in Budapest, Hungary;
5. Large scale testing of the real scale sleepers under realistic train loading in a controlled laboratory environment to investigate the short- and long-term behaviour of the sleepers - currently underway with initial results being analysed and feedback to other WPs; and
6. Carrying out life cycle cost analysis and environmental impact study on the sleeper solutions - currently underway.
1. WP2: The deliverables D2.1: REPORT ON THE CURRENT STATE-OF-ART AND IDENTIFICATION OF INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS FOR TRANSITION ZONES (30/06/2021) and D2.2: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF TRANSITION ZONES (30/09/2021) have been issued;
2. WP3: Initially, five different self-correcting sleeper ideas were proposed. Two designs, namely horizontal wedge and granular solutions were identified as effective solutions. In addition to mechanical self-correcting sleepers, a wedge-shaped sleeper was also proposed as part of WP4. In total, three sleepers were designed and manufactured. The deliverable D3.1: DESIGN AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION OF A NEXT GENERATION TRANSITION ZONE SYSTEM has been published;
3. WP4: A wedge shaped self-levelling sleeper was designed and numerical analysis was performed. The deliverable D4.1: REPORT ON THE DEVELOPED NUMERICAL MODEL has been issued;
4. WP5: A condition monitoring system for real transition zones was designed. The system relies on three-dimensional vibration monitoring. This system was tested in a large scale testing facility;
5. WP6: Full scale laboratory experiments of transition zones were performed on standard plastic and wedge-shaped sleeper. The hanging sleeper occurrence, load and stress distribution, elastic and plastic deformations were experimented. The deliverable D6.1: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR PHYSICAL TRANSITION ZONE DEMONSTRATORS has been issued; and
6. Financial frame for life cycle cost analysis on the proposed sleeper was identified. All required parameters affecting LCC were studied.
The project is progressing, as planned, across all of its WPs and remains on course at this moment in time.
2. WP3: Initially, five different self-correcting sleeper ideas were proposed. Two designs, namely horizontal wedge and granular solutions were identified as effective solutions. In addition to mechanical self-correcting sleepers, a wedge-shaped sleeper was also proposed as part of WP4. In total, three sleepers were designed and manufactured. The deliverable D3.1: DESIGN AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION OF A NEXT GENERATION TRANSITION ZONE SYSTEM has been published;
3. WP4: A wedge shaped self-levelling sleeper was designed and numerical analysis was performed. The deliverable D4.1: REPORT ON THE DEVELOPED NUMERICAL MODEL has been issued;
4. WP5: A condition monitoring system for real transition zones was designed. The system relies on three-dimensional vibration monitoring. This system was tested in a large scale testing facility;
5. WP6: Full scale laboratory experiments of transition zones were performed on standard plastic and wedge-shaped sleeper. The hanging sleeper occurrence, load and stress distribution, elastic and plastic deformations were experimented. The deliverable D6.1: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR PHYSICAL TRANSITION ZONE DEMONSTRATORS has been issued; and
6. Financial frame for life cycle cost analysis on the proposed sleeper was identified. All required parameters affecting LCC were studied.
The project is progressing, as planned, across all of its WPs and remains on course at this moment in time.
The IN2ZONE research project follows a highly interdisciplinary approach with most up-to-date technological tools. The range of fields varies from sensor engineering to geotechnical engineering, from artificial intelligence to railway engineering. Therefore, the outputs of this project will be relevant to many kinds of industrial and research organisations.
Two real scale self-levelling sleepers made of plastic were produced. Currently, the sleepers are being tested in full-scale laboratory facility and the resilience-based monitoring system developed within WP5 is implemented. By the end of the project, the short and long-term behaviour of the self-levelling sleepers (SLS) and the resilience-based monitoring system will have been investigated numerically and experimentally. It is projected that the prototypes will have achieved TRL 5, and be ready for the deployment stage, starting with TRL 6.
We have been able to conduct Initial tests on the projects selected self-levelling sleeper designs, as well as the testing of the condition monitoring system on said designs.
Two real scale self-levelling sleepers made of plastic were produced. Currently, the sleepers are being tested in full-scale laboratory facility and the resilience-based monitoring system developed within WP5 is implemented. By the end of the project, the short and long-term behaviour of the self-levelling sleepers (SLS) and the resilience-based monitoring system will have been investigated numerically and experimentally. It is projected that the prototypes will have achieved TRL 5, and be ready for the deployment stage, starting with TRL 6.
We have been able to conduct Initial tests on the projects selected self-levelling sleeper designs, as well as the testing of the condition monitoring system on said designs.