Analysis of Track Structural Response to Variations in Ballast and Rail Pad Stiffness in Ballasted Turnouts with Plastic Sleepers

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This research aims to analyze the structural response of plastic sleepers in ballasted turnouts under varying ballast and rail pad stiffness.
Conducted a three-dimensional finite element analysis of turnout sections.
Examined variations in support stiffness and rail pad vertical stiffness.
Performed quasi-static analysis to evaluate structural responses.
Shear force is significantly influenced by rail pad stiffness, while sleeper deflection and ballast pressure depend on support stiffness.
Increasing pad stiffness reduces local bending moments and ballast pressure at the crossing rail, redistributing load to adjacent rails.
Safety evaluations indicated that bending and shear stresses of plastic sleepers are well within acceptable limits, although high ballast pressure may exceed limits under certain conditions.

Analyzes structural responses in ballasted turnouts, indicating careful stiffness selection is necessary.

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Chae et al. (2026) studied this question.

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