Mitigation of track buckling in transition zones of steel bridges by geotextile reinforcement of the ballast layer

Track thermal buckling is one of the primary safety issues continuously welded rail tracks. It has been shown that transition zones open deck steel bridges are more prone to track buckling, as loads from bridge and lower lateral resistance in this region can destabilize plane. The aim paper assess possibility reinforcing ballast layer with geotextiles mitigate problem zones. To do so, a number laboratory experiments performed using two layers geogrids various depths layer. Single tie push tests on force-displacement curves derived for sleepers. adding geotextile increase its by up 41%. results then introduced numerical model developed Abaqus finite element software analysis. geogrid temperature 11.33 °C, an almost 21%, compared unreinforced track.