Discreet element modeling of under sleeper pads using a box test

It has recently been reported that under sleeper pads (USPs) could improve ballasted rail track by decreasing the sleeper settlement and reducing particle breakage. In order to find out what happens at the particle-pad interface, discrete element modelling (DEM) is used to provide micro mechanical insight. The same positive effects of USP are found in the DEM simulations. The evidence provided by DEM shows that application of a USP allows more particles to be in contact with the pad, and causes these particles to transfer a larger lateral load to the adjacent ballast but a smaller vertical load beneath the sleeper. This could be used to explain why the USP helps to reduce the track settlement. In terms of particle breakage, it is found that most breakage occurs at the particle-sleeper interface and along the main contact force chains between particles under the sleeper. The use of USPs could effectively reduce particle abrasion that occurs in both of these regions

In situ performance of a ballasted railway track with under sleeper pads

An extensive full-scale field test to investigate the influence of under sleeper pads (USPs) on track quality (with respect to magnitudes of vertical track irregularities) and track dynamics has been conducted on the Schweizerische Bundesbahnen test site at Kiesen in Switzerland. Static track geometry data and dynamic track responses in terms of sleeper strain and accelerations of rail and sleeper during train pass-by have been measured and analysed. It is observed that the use of USPs generates higher rail and sleeper accelerations but lower sleeper strains due to bending. The degradation of track geometry appears to slow down when USPs are used