Investigation of Concrete Damage on a Prefabricated Steel Spring Floating Slab Track by Finite Element Modelling

Abstract To investigate the concrete damage of prefabricated steel spring floating slab tracks (SSFST), a three-slab prefabricated SSFST system was established using the ABAQUS finite element software. Full trainload conditions and fatigue load conditions of a train passage were successively applied to the system. Plastic damage and fatigue damage of the floating slab were simulated based on concrete damage plasticity theory and model code, respectively. For comparison, a simulation of the fatigue experiment was conducted. Parametric analyses of the concrete strength and isolator stiffness were also performed. The results show that the maximum positive and negative bending moments of the floating slab throughout the loading stage are close in value. The positive bending moment causes stress concentration on the top slab surface which leads to plastic damage and low-cycle fatigue damage, while the negative bending moment causes middle-level elastic tensile stress on the bottom slab surface which leads to high-cycle fatigue damage. Under experimental conditions, damage on the bottom surface is much more severe, while the upper part is undamaged. Improving the concrete strength can reduce both kinds of damage, while increasing the isolator stiffness can only mitigate the high-cycle fatigue damage. Accordingly, recommendations are provided for improving fatigue experiments and structural design of prefabricated floating slabs.This study can inform the design and maintenance of the prefabricated SSFST system, ultimately enhancing their safety and longevity.