The influence of wave processes on the reinforcement of the base plate of a ballast-free railway track

Introduction. Since nowadays ballast-free track structures are most often used in combination with continuous welded track solutions for organizing a rail string, it should be emphasized that stresses arising in the rail string affect the stress-strain state of the entire construction of the track superstructure; therefore, it is necessary to monitor the current state of the continuous welded track. Nevertheless, kinks are formed and assembled rails and sleepers lose stability during the operational period of a continuous welded track, and methods are needed to determine the pre-failure conditions related to the temperature range of operation of a continuous track. Materials and methods. In this study, we propose a model of a flat structure made of a material having anisotropic properties, which makes it possible to take account of initiation and propagation of wave processes under the action of an external dynamic load. Results. The considered methods of simulating the propagation of elastic waves in a plate will make it possible to identify the points where direct and reflected waves of various orders converge; these waves can both increase and reduce the overall intensity of wave processes, leading to an increase or reduction in stresses and deformations in the characteristic points of a structure. Conclusions. The proposed solutions are most relevant for the structural elements of transport infrastructure facilities, since they are the ones that are exposed to alternating dynamic loads having varying intensity and time distribution of characteristic values.