Elastic elements such as rail pads, under sleeper pads and under ballast mats are railway components that allow for a reduction in track deterioration and vibrations. And they are furthermore commonly used to obtain an optimal vertical stiffness of the infrastructure. However, the use of elastomeric materials can increase construction costs and the consumption of raw materials. Thus, the utiliz...

the track stiffness experienced by a train will vary along the track. sometimes the stiffness variation may be very large within a short distance. one example is when an unsupported sleeper is hanging in the rail. track stiffness is then, locally at that sleeper, very low. at insulated joints the bending stiffness of the rail has a discontinuity implying a discontinuity also of the track stiffn...

In South Africa, one of the main lines situated in its Limpopo Province presents symptoms excessive vehicle-track vibrations. A modal method is adopted to study difference dynamic response corrugated rails resting on Hytrel/6385 and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) rail pads. The results for these two types pads are analysed form Frequency Response Functions (FRFs). Two positions considered obt...