Assessing the nonlinear static stiffness of rail pad using finite element method

The unintended vibrations and sound emerging from train operation have an enormous impact on the surroundings, including deterioration of way, buildings, structures. One proposed strategy to mitigate this issue is installation a rail pad inserted between steel concrete sleeper provide flexibility track cushion shocks generated by wheels’ movement. These materials nonlinear, dissipative properties influenced service conditions like temperature toe load. This work aimed investigate static stiffness different under influence pads were categorized as soft, medium, or hard based stiffness. A 3D model pad, rail, was simulated analyzed using ANSYS FEM software. neo-Hookean used isotropic elasticity for sleeper. ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) 85.42 kN/mm, lower than that thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs, 138.98 kN/mm) vinyl acetate (EVA, 303.70 reference (20 °C), without load effects. Increasing decreased pad’s stiffness, with highest reduction 53.49 %. However, increasing contributed up 23.53 % increase in pad.