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AAiT - Lecture 03 Railway Geometry - Part III PDF
AAiT - Lecture 03 Railway Geometry - Part III PDF
AAiT - Lecture 03 Railway Geometry - Part III PDF
Mequanent Mulugeta
(mequanent.mulugeta@aait.edu.et) 1
AAiT
Vertical Alignment (profile)
The longitudinal section of rail line is consisted of flat road, ramp
and vertical curve.
The railway profile is composed of
grade sections which length and
gradient is different each other. The
feature of grade section is
expressed in the length and
Gradient.
Mequanent M. 2
Features of grade section
Gradient and length are used
to represent characteristic of
grade section.
Length of grade section is
refer to the horizontal range
between two grade change
points.
What to do…?
• Determining the maximum grade
• Determining the length of grade section
• Determining the connection at the point of gradient change
• Design the grade section
Mequanent M. 3
Vertical Grades
Mequanent M. 4
Gradients
Gradients are provided to meet the following objectives.
– To reach various stations at different elevations
– To follow the natural contours of the ground to the
extent possible
– To reduce the cost of earthwork.
Types of gradients
• The result indicated that, a CRH3 EMU can run on a grade of 12‰
with speed of 300 km/h.
• To add the number of motors can increase the total power of EMU
so that the unit power per ton mass can be increased.
• On the other hand, to reduce the number of car in a unit can also
attain the purpose to increase the unit power per ton mass.
• In this way, the maximum gradient in railway line for passenger
traffic will not be limited by traction power.
Mequanent M. 7
Selection of maximum grade
1. For passenger traffic lines, the major influencing factors for determination of
gradient are
→ Topography
→ Height control
2. For mixed freight and passenger
a) Ruling grade; The ruling grade is defined here as the maximum gradient
over which a tonnage train can be hauled at a given speed by a given
locomotive consist or horsepower
b) Helper/Pusher grade: The maximum grade used in sections trains
being hauled by two or more locomotives (+ locomotive)
Limiting Grade - The gradient which can decide the maximum cargo weight of a
locomotive is called the limiting gradient.
• It is often equaled to the maximum gradient.
Mequanent M. 8
Ruling gradient
• The ruling gradient is the steepest gradient that exists in a
section.
• It determines the maximum load that can be hauled by a
locomotive on that section.
• While deciding the ruling gradient of a section, it is not only the
severity of the gradient but also its length as well as its position
with respect to the gradients on both sides that have to be taken
into consideration.
The extra force P required by a locomotive to pull a train of
weight W on a gradient with an angle of inclination α is
P = W sin α = W tan α (approximately, as α is very small)
= W × gradient
Example:
In a railway line for mixed freight and passenger traffic, trains composed of
cars with rolling bearing that is hauled by SS3 electric locomotive, if the
tractive mass is 3 500 tons, the calculated maximum gradient is: (Vj=48 km/h
,Fj=317 800 N,P=138 t):
Mequanent M. 10
Choice of Ruling Grade
Where:
• G — traction mass with single locomotive on ruling grade (t);
• w0’,w0”— unit basic resistance of locomotive and car under the calculated
speed (N/kN);
• λ— coefficient of tractive mode, determined in terms of the kind of tractive,
operating mode; Mequanent M. 13
Design of Helper Grades
Mequanent M. 14
Momentum Gradient
• The momentum gradient is steeper than the ruling gradient and can be
overcome by a train because of the momentum it gathers while running
on the section.
• In valleys, a falling gradient is sometimes followed by a rising
gradient. In such a situation, a train coming down a falling gradient
acquires good speed and momentum, which gives additional kinetic
energy to the train and allows it to negotiate gradients steeper than the
ruling gradient.
• In sections with momentum gradients there are no obstacles provided in
the form of signals, etc., which may bring the train to a critical juncture.
Mequanent M. 15
Connection of Grade Section
Mequanent M. 16
Limited condition for Algebraic Difference of grades
There is no limit in lines for passenger traffic:
① The value of longitudinal force of train at the point of gradient
change will increase with algebraic difference of gradients;
② At summits -formation, pull will increase and push decrease; but at
sags, it is on the contrary.
③ The value of longitudinal force of a train is determined in terms of
tonnage ratings, length of train, locomotive working condition, and
the profile formation, etc.
The maximum allowable algebraic difference of adjacent gradients.
Mequanent M. 17
The Theory of Compensation
Mequanent M. 18
Compensation For Curvature
Design grade
In curve, ij=i+iR ≤ imax (‰) ; Design grade in curve: i= imax -iR (‰)
where, imax - maximum length of grade(‰)
iR - reduction of curve gradient(‰)。
Rules for Compensation of curve resistance
1. When curvature occurs on a slight grade, it has no limiting effect, and
compensation is not necessity.
2. Grade design should ensure enough compensation of curve resistance, and avoid
too much compensation so that more distance is required to attain the desired
elevation.
3. the length of curve used in compensation formula is the length of simple circular
curve without spiral; the length of freight train is the short-term one. As the
length of short-term train is shorter than that of long-term train. Compensation in
terms of short-term train can meet the requirement of long-term train.
4. The length of compensated grade shall not be shorter and close to the length of
circular curve. The length of grade section should not be shorter than 200 meters,
and can be divided exactly by 50 meters. In general, the length of grade section
should not longer than the length of short-term freight train.
5. The precision of design gradient by curve compensation takes as 0.1.
Mequanent M. 19
Method of curvature compensation
1) The straight line longer than 200 meters between two adjacent curves can be
designed as a grade section without compensation. Its gradient takes as the
maximum grade.
2) A curve longer than a freight train can be designed as a grade section, the value of
compensation of curve is:
3) A curve shorter than a freight train can be designed as a grade section, the value of
compensation of curve is:
Where, a- deflection angle of curve (°); L- length of curve (m); R- radius of curve (m);
Li - length of design grade section (m), (<= length of train)
4) A section with two short curves, if curves and intermediate straight lines are all
shorter than 200 meters, can be designed as two grades by dividing intermediate
straight line into two parts, compensation of curve as above; It can also be
designed as a grade, the value of compensation of curve is:
ic ‰= r i ‰ ir i ‰
Mequanent M. 21
Exercise 4
Mequanent M. 22
Vertical Curves
Definition: For smooth riding (and good appearance) vertical curves
provide a gradual transition from one grade to another.
Vertical curve type:
Sag and Crest
Parabola and/or circular arc
Mequanent M. 23
Radius of vertical curves Criteria
1. Riding Comfort
↣ 𝑎𝑣 , Gemerny, Japan, takes as 0.15~0.6m/s2
↣ Mixed freight traffic and passenger traffic in China, takes as
0.15~0.2𝑚 𝑠2 , then, 𝑹𝒗 > 𝟎. 𝟓𝑽𝟐𝒎𝒂𝒙 and 𝑹𝒗 > 𝟎. 𝟒𝑽𝟐𝒎𝒂𝒙
↣ Line for high-speed passenger traffic: 𝑎𝑣 takes 0.4 ~ 0.5𝑚 𝑠2
then,
𝑹𝒗 > 𝟎. 𝟐𝑽𝟐𝒎𝒂𝒙
and
𝑹𝒗 > 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓𝑽𝟐𝒎𝒂𝒙
Mequanent M. 24
2. Ensure no derailment
when a train round a summit vertical curve, According to the experience of
the braking force of train will exert a vertical Japan railway, on consideration
component upward Sv. of safety, the rate of wheel load
On considering the most unfavorable reduction caused by the vertical
condition, suppose a train is in emergency resultant force can not larger
∆𝑊
braking, the longitudinal push force cause by than 10%,=> 𝑊 ≤ 0.1, so
braking is S, its’ vertical component is Sv/2. that the vertical radius shall
The resultant can calculated as follow: meet: R v > 0.08Vmax 2
Mequanent M. 25
3. Radius to ensure no coupler separation
• High speed train: Using tight-lock coupler, there would not
occurred coupler separation during train running.
• For ordinary trains, radius to ensure no coupler separation
should meet following formula:
Mequanent M. 26
4. Radius to meet the requirement of track maintenance
Mequanent M. 27
Geometrical elements of vertical curve
1. Tangent length, Tv Where: a -the deflection angle of
vertical angle (°);
a1 , a2 -the two included angle between
grade line and level lines, (°), taken as
positive when ascending, negative
when descending;
i1,i2 - the two intersecting grades (‰),
taken as positive when ascending,
negative when descending;
Δi- algebraic difference between
2. Length of vertical curve Kv adjacent gradients(‰).
Kv ≈2Tv (m) vertical distance y
2𝑅𝑣 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2
As the value of 𝑦 2 is very small, it can be omitted. So that (m)
Where, x is the distance from the calculated point to the start point of vertical
curve in meters. Mequanent M. 28
The vertical distance at the point of gradient change is called external secant
Ev, can be calculated as follows:
iii. In order to meet the requirements, the minimum allowable length of vertical
curve must not be shorter than 25m.
iv. The vertical curve (or gradient change point) must not be located in the same
region with transition curve, turnout and expansion rail joint.
v. The vertical curve should not be located in the same region with
the plane circular curve.
vi. For passenger lines, when the gradient difference between adjacent grades more
than 3‰, the grades shall be connected with vertical circular arc.
vii. The radius of vertical curve is 5000m under general condition and
3000m under difficult condition.
Mequanent M. 31
Length of grade section
The length of grade section is the level distance between two points of
adjacent grade sections.
From engineering point, short length of grade section is much easy to
fit the rise and fall of topography, reduce the work volume of
subgrade, bridges and tunnels.
Length determined by the smooth and steady of train running (safety
and riding comfort) (longer length of grade section is much easy to
meet the requirements).
The length of grade section shall be determined after technical and
economic comparisons.
The minimum length determined by the coupler strength
Length determined by the smooth and steady of train running
Mequanent M. 32
• Length determined by the smooth and steady of train running
(Germany and Japan Practices proofed that minimum straight
between adjacent vertical curves is about 0.4Vmax. The minimum length
of grade section should be:
Instead of R with the length of curve (m) and deflection angle a (°),
that is l(m), formula can be expressed as:
Mequanent M. 34
Average unit curve resistance of freight train
Suppose the length of train is LL(m) and the mass is distributed along
train uniformly, if the unit mass per meter is q(t/m), the average unit
resistance can be computed as follows: (Ly=curve Length)
Mequanent M. 35
α
Equivalent Grades
• It is frequently convenient to express curve resistance in terms of the
equivalent grade that would offer the same resistance. Thus curve resistance
of 1 newton per kN equal to the resistance offered by a 1‰ grade.
• In other words, the unit resistance of a 1N/KN is the same as the resistance
that a 1‰ grade would offer. One can convert curve resistance to the
equivalent grade, add that to the profile grade and compute the combined
effects in one operation. However, handled curve resistance should not be
overlooked.
Mequanent M. 36