Railway turnout dynamics: on-track experimental and model-based analysis
(2026)
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- Abstract
- Switches and crossings (S&C) are critical elements of railway infrastructure, essential for traffic distribution, track flexibility and safety. However, their geometric complexity and exposure to dynamic loads make them among the most failure-prone components, particularly in dense urban networks like Brussels. This thesis analyzes the dynamic behavior of a right-hand turnout on wooden sleepers, focusing on the actual gap between static measurements (digital ruler) and dynamic measurements (on-board EM130 system). Part of the AIGUIDYN collaborative project between Infrabel and UCLouvain, this work combines experimental campaigns and multibody simulations to study the influence of train direction, velocity, mass distribution, lateral stiffness and wear on both rail deformation and measurement accuracy. Two experimental campaigns were performed: a dynamic campaign with on-board and on-track sensors, and a static campaign using a hydraulic jack to characterize lateral stiffness. A multibody model with the ROBOTRAN software simulated train/turnout interactions, including wheel tread & flange/rail and wheel flange/check rail contacts. Results show that, for speeds up to 40 km/h, quasi-static factors — such as train lateral load, passage configuration and track curvature — dominate over dynamic effects. The study highlights the importance of sensor location, the influence of lateral stiffness, and the need to reconsider maintenance thresholds based on dynamic measurements.
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Acosta Suñé, R. (2026). Railway turnout dynamics: on-track experimental and model-based analysis. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/271687