Trackdes

Used by SYSTRA Canada to analyze the stresses occurring in the railway track structure resulting from single or multiple axle load configurations. The model was developed to assess any track gauge (narrow, standard, broad, and even dual-gauge), in view of the variety of situations that the company encounters in its international work. The model compares the calculated stresses against recommended or generally accepted values and allows rapid analysis of multiple combinations of rail size, sleeper spacing, and ballast depth. This permits optimization of the track structure with respect to the specific loading conditions and local costs of materials (for instance, at a location where suitable ballast is expensive, the design would be modified to decrease sleeper spacing and reduce the ballast depth).