TY - JOUR A1 - Auersch, Lutz T1 - Dynamic behavior of slab tracks on homogeneous and layered soils and the reduction of ground vibration by floating slab tracks N2 - The dynamics of slab tracks and floating slab tracks are analyzed by multibeam models for the track and by integration in the wave-number domain for the soil, which is modeled as a layered half-space. Frequency-dependent compliances and force transfers are calculated for a great variety of track and soil parameters. The distribution of the load and the displacements along the track is investigated as well as the wave propagation perpendicular to the track and the ground vibration amplitudes. The floating slab track has a dominating plate-mat resonance and a strong high-frequency reduction. A track-soil resonance can also be recognized for an unisolated slab track in the case of layered soils. Generally, there is a strong damping of the track by the soil. The reduction effect of the slab mat is mainly owing to the elimination of this strong damping. The continuous soil yields slightly different rules for the displacements and force densities than those of a Winkler support. The total force transfer from the rail to the soil is the best criterion to judge the effectiveness of a floating slab track in reducing the ground vibration at some distance from the railway line. The total force transfer is easier to calculate than the double Fourier integrals of the ground vibration amplitudes, namely in the far field, and it has the best correlation with the reduction of the ground vibration. KW - Railway track KW - Slab track KW - Floating slab track KW - Track-soil interaction KW - Track vibration KW - Ground vibration KW - Force transfer PY - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0000407 SN - 0733-9399 SN - 1943-7889 VL - 138 IS - 8 SP - 923 EP - 933 PB - Soc. CY - New York, NY, USA AN - OPUS4-26860 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -