Analysis of parameters' effects on settlement of ballasted track

In order to comprehend the occurring and growing mechanism of track settlement, ballast bed settlement was regarded as study object, and the effects of transportation conditions and track structure parameters on ballast settlement were analyzed by using simulation analysis program based on vehicle-track coupling dynamics and track settlement laws. Analysis result shows that vehicle running speed, vehicle axle load and railway traffic are main control factors of track settlement; it benefits to decrease ballast settlement by adopting heavy rail, big size sleeper and high density ballast; big sleeper space and high ballast elastic modulus are disadvantageous to control ballast settlement; the effect of subgrade modulus K₃₀ is complex, ballast settlement increases with the increase of K30 when K30 is less than 90 MPa·m^-1, ballast settlement reduces with the increase of K₃₀ when K₃₀ is more than 90 MPa·m^-1. Obviously, in order to decrease track settlement, it is important to match track structure parameters and arrange transportation reasonably.