Resonant Curves of an Elevated Railway To Harmonic Moving Loads

The fundamental dynamic characteristics of an elevated railway subjected to harmonic moving loads are investigated. The elevated ballast railway is analytically modeled as three different cases, with Case A indicating a simply-supported beam, Case B a two-parallel-beam system that is simply supported and inserted with a viscoelastic layer, and Case C an expansion of Case B through addition of two semi-infinite beams with viscoelastic foundation on two sides. The resonant conditions of these three cases are especially emphasized and studied in details. Finally, the resonant curves of an elevated railway to harmonic moving loads are presented, which are useful to railway engineers and may be used as preliminary design aids.