The standard approach for modeling railway tracks idealizes the rails as two infinite beams, each supported over a separate continuous spring foundation. The foundation is characterized by a track modulus that embodies all components and materials underlying each rail as well as any cross-rail interaction. Track modulus is considered a basic parameter governing the field performance of tracks. Therefore, a priori determination of track modulus is needed in design of traditional railways, as well as in evaluating the performance-potential of non-traditional track solutions. In this study, a new method was suggested for a priori track modulus determination based on elastic solutions. Specifically sought were closed-form analytical formulations that could be representative and tractable. In this connection, a 3-D track model was developed, wherein: rail-pads were considered as linear springs, sleepers as finite beams, and all underlying soil-like materials as a homogenous half-space. Ultimately, track modulus was determined by linking calculations in the 3-D model and the standard model. This was done by requiring equal maximal displacement as well as identical load distribution along the rail under the weight of a single railcar axle. The method was illustrated considering a wide set of values for the different model parameters. The calculated results are comparable in magnitudes and exhibit similar sensitivities to the input parameters as reported in field studies or as derived from elaborate numerical schemes.

铁路轨道建模的标准方法将轨道理想化为两个无限大的梁，每个梁都支撑在单独的连续弹簧基础上。地基的特征是轨道模量，体现了每个轨道下面的所有组件和材料以及任何横向轨道相互作用。磁道模量被认为是支配磁道场性能的基本参数。因此，在传统铁路的设计以及评估非传统轨道解决方案的性能潜力时，需要先确定轨道模量。在这项研究中，提出了一种基于弹性解确定先验轨道模量的新方法。特别需要的是具有代表性和易于处理的封闭形式分析配方。为此，开发了一种3-D轨道模型，其中：滑轨垫被视为线性弹簧，轨枕被视为有限梁，而所有下层土壤状材料被视为同质的半空间。最终，通过链接3-D模型和标准模型中的计算来确定轨道模量。这是通过在单个有轨车轴的重量下要求相等的最大位移以及沿轨道的相同载荷分布来实现的。说明了该方法，其中考虑了不同模型参数的大量值。计算结果的大小可比，并且对输入参数表现出相似的敏感性，如实地研究中报道的那样或源自精心设计的数值方案。轨迹模量是通过链接3-D模型和标准模型中的计算确定的。这是通过在单个有轨车轴的重量下要求相等的最大位移以及沿轨道的相同载荷分布来实现的。说明了该方法，其中考虑了不同模型参数的大量值。计算结果的大小可比，并且对输入参数表现出相似的敏感性，如实地研究中报道的那样或源自精心设计的数值方案。轨迹模量是通过链接3-D模型和标准模型中的计算确定的。这是通过在单个轨道车轴的重量下要求相等的最大位移以及沿轨道的相同载荷分布来实现的。说明了该方法，其中考虑了不同模型参数的大量值。计算结果的大小可比，并且对输入参数表现出相似的敏感性，如实地研究中报道的那样或源自精心设计的数值方案。