EXAMINATION OF THE REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB STRUCTURE WITH BLOCK RAILS FOR TRAMWAY TRACK

Abstract

On the track-slab structure with block rails introduced in 1972 on the tramway lines of Budapest, commission of the track building and operating as well as the r.c. track-slab produc- ing institutions, the Department for Railway Construction of the Technical University of Buda- pest performed extensive research investigations. These investigations involved the theoretical determination of the different stresses generated in the block rails of the track structure, the examination of the ripple-building on the running surface and spinning over of this latter, the development of the insulated joints of the block rails, the detailed theoretical and laboratory test investigation of the r.c. track-slab, the stability examination of the assembled track struc- ture, the laboratory-examination of the rail fastening, the design problems of foundation of the track, the vibration and noise measurements of the track and in the vehicles, the electrical measurements in the track and a great number of other technical problems of minor signifi- cance. The present study reports on the details and major results of a continuous, ten year's work and on the suggestions made for the development of the r.c. track-slab and block rail structure described in the paper.