Dynamic performances of small-radius curved track for mountain strengthened railway

New strengthening technologies of laying concrete sleeper and matching measurement have been adopted to raise train speeds on the small-radius curved tacks of Chinese mountain railways. In order to investigate the dynamic performances of the curved track structure, the dynamic properties of the strengthened track and the unstrengthened track were compared based on system engineering theory and vehicle-track coupling dynamics. Analysis result shows that the dynamic interaction between wheel and rail and the rail-pad force of the strengthened track are little bigger than those of the unstrengthened track, the safety grades of the tracks are same, the strengthened track can benefit to decrease the displacements of all components of track structure obviously, to restrain the deformation of track effectively, and to reinforce the stability of railway, especially the lateral displacement and the gauge enlargement of the strengthened rail are about 33% of original rail. Furthermore, the strengthened track can help to reduce the vibration of the sub-rail structure and to lighten the destruction of track caused from raising train speeds.