Fastening System of Turnout for High-Speed Railway
The fastening system of turnouts for high-speed railways in Germany and France is meticulously designed to meet both performance and functional requirements, ensuring safety and stability at high speeds.
In Germany, the rigidity of the fastening system is carefully regulated based on the operational speed (V) of the trains. For speeds below 160km/h, only rubber pads are placed under the rails. As the speed increases to 160km/h to less than 220km/h, the required rigidity is set at 30kn/mm. For speeds equal to or greater than 220km/h, the rigidity for both ballasted and non-ballasted tracks is specified as 17.5KN/mm.
In Germany's turnout areas, the design ensures that the stress under the rail does not exceed 75mPa. With an axle load of 23t, the rail's vertical static rigidity is maintained at 17.5kn/mm. This static rigidity is achieved through the use of an elastic base plate, which combines a rubber pad and a tie plate using vulcanization technology. Fatigue testing of the elastic base plate demonstrates that the dynamic increase in gauge is less than 1mm. Additionally, the ratio of dynamic to static rigidity falls within the range of 1.2-1.3.
To bridge the rigidity gap between the turnout area and the intervals, elastic crossings are installed. Trains are designed to transit these crossings within 0.5s, ensuring smooth transitions between sections with varying rigidity.
In France, similar attention is given to the design of the fastening system, with a focus on meeting performance requirements while maintaining operational safety and stability. However, specific regulations and parameters may vary between the two countries based on their respective railway standards and operational conditions.