Dynamic response of high-speed ballasted railway tracks: 3D periodic model and in situ measurements

A three-dimensional (3D) model for the soil–railway track system is proposed. It is based on a geometrical periodic hypothesis. The dynamic soil–structure interaction is taken into account. This representation is used for the case of a ballasted railway track subjected to high-speed moving loads and a new formulation of dynamic responses of the system is proposed. Moreover, recent in situ measurements performed in a high-speed line of the North of France are presented. Lateral and vertical accelerations in several locations of the railway track have been measured and the periodic model is confronted with these records.