The problem of railway track swaying not only affects the passengers' riding experience, but may also threaten driving safety, so it is necessary to analyze its causes.
Deviations in track geometry are common factors that cause swaying. In terms of track gauge, if the track gauge is too large or too small, beyond the allowable range, the contact state between the wheel and the rail will be abnormal, making the train's running stability worse. For example, when the track gauge is too large, the wheel is prone to lateral displacement on the rail, causing swaying. Horizontal unevenness should not be ignored. When there is a horizontal height difference between the two rails, the center of gravity will shift when the train is running, generating lateral force, causing the body to sway. Height unevenness also has a significant impact. Continuous ups and downs, like a vehicle driving on a rugged road, will cause the train to vibrate up and down.
Poor condition of the rails themselves is also one of the causes of swaying. Uneven wear of the rails will change the contact point and contact force distribution between the wheels and the rails. For example, the outer rails in curved sections are often more severely worn due to long-term centrifugal force, which can cause lateral shaking when the train passes. The rails have hard bends, that is, local bending and deformation. When the train wheels pass, they will be subjected to additional impact force, causing the car body to shake instantly. Moreover, if there are problems at the rail joints, such as uneven joints, too large or too small rail gaps, vibrations will occur when the train passes, causing the car to shake.
The condition of the track bed is crucial to the stability of the track. If the track bed is dirty and compacted, its elasticity will be greatly reduced, and it will not be able to effectively buffer the impact force generated by the train running, resulting in increased track vibration and then causing the car to shake. If the track bed is not thick enough, it cannot provide sufficient support for the track. Under the action of the train load, the track is prone to deformation, causing shaking during the train running. In addition, if the shoulder width of the track bed is not enough, it will affect the lateral resistance of the track bed, making the track easily displaced under the action of the lateral force of the train, causing the car to shake.
External environmental factors should not be underestimated. Climate conditions have a significant impact. When the temperature is high, the rails will expand. If the rails expand and the track geometry changes, it will inevitably cause the train to sway. Low temperatures may make the rail material brittle, increase the risk of cracks and other defects, and affect the smoothness of train operation. Geological conditions are also critical. In areas with poor geological conditions such as soft soil foundations, the roadbed is prone to settlement and deformation, which will cause the track to deform and cause the train to sway.
As a professional supplier in the field of international steel trade, GNEE RAIL has long been committed to the global sales and service of GB standard heavy rails. We can provide customers with a full range of railway heavy rail products, from ordinary line rails to high-strength wear-resistant rails, with complete product specifications to meet the needs of railway construction of different levels.