Innovative Bridge Concept
J. Bujnak, P. Bujnakova, and J. Odrobi ˇ
nák
Abstract The design of high speed railway lines assumes overall geometrical
parameters with proper ballasted track bed and innovative bridge structure arrangement. The specific provision for evaluation of dynamic effects, riding comfort
requirement, thermal forces actions, and approach arrangement are subjects of this
paper. Testing methods for verification of global behaviour of bridges are also
presented. The computer modelling using more sophisticated analyses is discussed
and experimental assessment given. Typical examples are described.
Keywords Railway corridor · Bridge types · Track interaction · Ballastless track
1 Bridge Particularities for Higher Operational Velocity
Europe is decidedly supporting and financing international high speed links between
its more relevant countries. The Baltic-Adriatic multimodal railway corridor, as a part
of European TEN-T infrastructure, runs from North to South, connecting core Baltic
ports with ports of the Adriatic Sea, and includes 4 285 km of 1435 mm standard gauge
railway infrastructure [1]. On the Slovak part, actual actions cover reconstruction of
national railway section of the line Zwardo´ n—Žilina—Bratislava—Wien for higher
speed. In view of the restrictions which are imposed at the approaches to large towns,
a running speed in excess of 160 km/h seems to be the reference level for this new
railway line.
Introduction of higher speed by developing existing conventional rail systems and
its greater velocity is primarily the fact of considerable infrastructure improvements.
The main advantage of this retrofitting of conventional rail system is lower cost
and much less time required in introducing a high-speed trains. Nevertheless, higher
speed and heavy freight trains have different demands on track standards, concerning
J. Bujnak (B) · P. Bujnakova · J. Odrobiˇ nák
Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, Zilina, Slovakia
e-mail: bujnak@uniza.sk
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Z. Zembaty et al. (eds.), Environmental Challenges in Civil
Engineering, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 122,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63879-5_1
1
J. Bujnak, P. Bujnakova, and J. Odrobi ˇ
nák
Abstract The design of high speed railway lines assumes overall geometrical
parameters with proper ballasted track bed and innovative bridge structure arrangement. The specific provision for evaluation of dynamic effects, riding comfort
requirement, thermal forces actions, and approach arrangement are subjects of this
paper. Testing methods for verification of global behaviour of bridges are also
presented. The computer modelling using more sophisticated analyses is discussed
and experimental assessment given. Typical examples are described.
Keywords Railway corridor · Bridge types · Track interaction · Ballastless track
1 Bridge Particularities for Higher Operational Velocity
Europe is decidedly supporting and financing international high speed links between
its more relevant countries. The Baltic-Adriatic multimodal railway corridor, as a part
of European TEN-T infrastructure, runs from North to South, connecting core Baltic
ports with ports of the Adriatic Sea, and includes 4 285 km of 1435 mm standard gauge
railway infrastructure [1]. On the Slovak part, actual actions cover reconstruction of
national railway section of the line Zwardo´ n—Žilina—Bratislava—Wien for higher
speed. In view of the restrictions which are imposed at the approaches to large towns,
a running speed in excess of 160 km/h seems to be the reference level for this new
railway line.
Introduction of higher speed by developing existing conventional rail systems and
its greater velocity is primarily the fact of considerable infrastructure improvements.
The main advantage of this retrofitting of conventional rail system is lower cost
and much less time required in introducing a high-speed trains. Nevertheless, higher
speed and heavy freight trains have different demands on track standards, concerning
J. Bujnak (B) · P. Bujnakova · J. Odrobiˇ nák
Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, Zilina, Slovakia
e-mail: bujnak@uniza.sk
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Z. Zembaty et al. (eds.), Environmental Challenges in Civil
Engineering, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 122,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63879-5_1
1