The science and analytical tools to design long life, low noise railway track systems

电气化铁路是唯一一种在使用点实际提供零二氧化碳排放的动力运输形式。减少交通运输的二氧化碳排放将需要从公路到铁路的大规模转变，这本身就是一个挑战，因为即使英国的铁路运输量增加10%，铁路运输量也会增加一倍。自1994年以来，铁路旅行增加了一倍，网络使用强度增加，暴露了传统轨道形式的局限性，因为真实的时间维护需求增加，可用于维护的时间减少。铁路行业还面临着降低成本和环境影响（包括噪音和振动）的压力，这通常是反对新建和升级铁路的主要原因。铁路运输对社会福祉、再生和增长的贡献是众所周知的;铁路现在被视为开启繁荣、改善英国东西部连通性和缩小南北经济差距的关键。计划中的英国和国际铁路投资是世纪来前所未有的，但不断增长的需求和期望揭示了有效、合理投资所需知识的差距。通过更好的轨道系统设计和寿命来节省成本和改善环境绩效的空间是巨大的：Network Rail目前每年花费35亿英镑。基础设施维护和更新，并将在2014-9年投资380亿英镑。TRACK to the FUTURE（T2 F）将探索科学知识并开发分析工具，以设计长寿命，低噪音的铁路轨道系统，这些系统安装经济，只需最少的维护，并优化环境性能。它将在三个关键领域实现逐步改进：1.轨道寿命：轨道维护在现金和碳方面成本高昂，并干扰运营。T2 F将探索新的低维护轨道形式。它将发展轨道刚度和沉降之间的关系，可以测量，和轨道的差异运动，导致性能恶化的理解。它将通过了解和消除或减轻劣化的原因并开发在劣化发生后长期保持良好性能的设计来延长镇流器寿命;并将促进镇流器的重复使用而不是降级或处置。2.开关（点）和过渡：当列车改变方向并穿过轨道或其它基础设施时，存在几何形状，支撑，车轮外形和车辆动力学。这一点还没有得到充分的理解，并且需要频繁的昂贵和中断性的维护。T2 F将地面支撑、道岔或过渡区几何形状以及车辆动力学等关键领域结合在一起，以可靠地评估交叉和过渡区的行为、寿命和维护需求。3.噪声和振动：随着使用的加剧，公众对铁路振动和噪声的容忍度正在下降，但这些在传统上被视为次要设计。T2 F将通过建模和全面测试开发和演示低噪音、低振动的轨道，同时降低整个寿命成本和低维护。在各个方面，T2 F将解决轨道系统在现代环境中承受的数百万次复杂载荷循环的影响，同时考虑到噪音、振动、车辆动力学和地面行为的综合影响，载荷的非均匀性和响应的非线性。该研究将导致开发综合工具，基于健全的基本原则和可靠的行为观察，用于评估轨道系统的性能，包括过渡和交叉，噪音和振动。这些将被纳入现有的行业分析模型，以提高铁路轨道系统的性能并减少维护需求，以支持DfT铁路技术战略2040年基础设施适应21世纪世纪的愿景。

Electrified railways are the only form of powered transport realistically offering zero CO2 emissions at point of use. A reduction in CO2 emissions from transport will require a massive shift from road to rail, itself a challenge as even a 10% shift in the UK would double rail traffic. This is on top of a doubling in rail travel and increased intensity of use of the network since 1994, exposing the limitations of traditional track forms as real time maintenance needs increased and the time available for maintenance reduced. The rail industry is also under pressure to reduce costs and environmental impacts including noise and vibration, often a major cause of objections to proposed new and upgraded lines.The contribution of rail transport to social wellbeing, regeneration and growth is well established; and rail is now seen as the key to unlocking prosperity, improving east-west connectivity in the UK and reducing the north-south economic divide. Planned UK and international rail investment is unprecedented in a century, but increased demands and expectations have revealed gaps in the knowledge needed for effective, rational investment. Scope for cost savings and improved environmental performance through better track system design and longevity is substantial: Network Rail currently spends £3.5bn p.a. on infrastructure maintenance and renewal, and will invest £38bn in 2014-9. TRACK to the FUTURE (T2F) will discover the scientific knowledge and develop the analytical tools to design long-life, low-noise railway track systems that are economical to install, require minimal maintenance, and optimize environmental performance. It will deliver step-change improvements in three key areas:1.Track life: track maintenance is costly in cash and carbon terms, and interferes with operations. T2F will explore new, low-maintenance track forms. It will develop an understanding of the relationships between track stiffness and settlement, which can be measured, and differential movement of the track, which causes performance to deteriorate. It will extend ballast life by understanding and eliminating or mitigating causes of deterioration and developing designs that will continue to perform well long after deterioration has set in; and will facilitate ballast re-use rather than downcycling or disposal.2.Switches (points) and transitions: where trains change direction and cross tracks or other infrastructure there is a complex interaction of geometry, support, wheel profile and vehicle dynamics. This is not sufficiently understood and frequent costly and disruptive maintenance is required. T2F will draw together the key areas of ground support, switch or transition zone geometry, and vehicle dynamics for the reliable assessment of crossing and transition zone behaviour, life and maintenance needs.3.Noise and vibration: public tolerance of vibration and noise from railways is decreasing as use intensifies, yet these are traditionally regarded as secondary in design. T2F will develop and demonstrate, through modelling and full-scale testing, a low-noise, low-vibration track consistent with reduced whole life costs and low maintenance.In every aspect, T2F will address the effects of millions of cycles of complex loads to which track systems are subjected in a modern environment, taking into account the combined effects of noise, vibration, vehicle dynamics and ground behaviour, non-uniformities of loading and non-linearities in response. The research will lead to the development of integrated tools, based on sound fundamental principles and reliable observations of behaviour, for assessing performance of track systems including transitions and crossings, noise and vibration. These will be incorporated into existing industry analytical models to improve the performance and reduce maintenance needs of railway track systems, in support of the DfT Rail Technical Strategy 2040 vision of infrastructure fit for the 21st century.