Finite element modeling of a rail resting on a Winkler-Coulomb foundation and subjected to a moving concentrated load

A model for the dynamic behavior of an Euler-Bernoulli beam on a frictional-elastic foundation under the action of a uniformly moving concentrated load is presented. The frictional part of the foundation's behavior is of the Coulomb type distributed over the beam's length and may represent the dissipative behavior due to the frictional sliding between the aggregates composing railway ballasts. Critical velocities, energy balances and dynamic amplification factors are computed based on a formulation and a numeric algorithm that take into account the nonsmooth character of friction.