Critical Temperature on Curved Superelevated Railways

Railways are essential for the efficient transport of people and cargo, but they face increasing risks due to temperature variations. This study analyses thermal instability in continuously welded rails located on curves with superelevation. The modelling, performed in ANSYS using the finite element method, evaluates factors such as rail profile, cant, fastener stiffness, ballast resistance, and geometric imperfections. The results show that loss of ballast resistance and increased imperfections reduce the critical buckling temperature. On the other hand, the use of cant can raise this temperature depending on the conditions. The research confirms that well‐designed curves with superelevation reduce the risk of thermal buckling.