3D Discrete Element Analysis of Selection of Sleeper Types on High-Speed Railway Bridge

In order to select a reasonable sleeper type used for a high-speed railway bridge, based on a comprehensive investigation of sleeper types, sleeper-ballast bed models for type Ⅲ sleeper, broad sleeper, ladder sleeper and frame sleeper were established using the discrete element software PFC 3D, and numerical analyses of ballast track structures for high-speed railway bridges were carried out. The research result shows that the four sleeper types have a large track frame rigidity and a long-time ability to sustain track geometry and stability. Contact forces between broad sleeper as well as frame sleeper and ballast bed are relatively small and distribute more evenly, and compared with type Ⅲ sleeper, broad sleeper and frame sleepe are more suitable for ballast track structures on high-speed railway bridges. However, the advantages of frame sleeper are not so obvious and its corresponding maintenance equipment has not been developed, so broad sleeper should be adopted for high-speed railway bridges in China.