Rail-Structure Interaction Parameters at Ballasted Viaduct in Rohtak-Gohana Elevated Stretch: Instrumentation, Measurements, and Interpretation

This work presents instrumentation and real-time measurements of responses for evaluation of the effects due to nonlinear rail-structure interaction on India’s first elevated multi-span viaduct (about 2 km long) along the Rohtak-Gohana stretch. The track consists of continuous welded rails over a ballasted deck. Among 110 spans, three spans of the viaduct were selected with varying attributes such as stiffness, span length, height of piers, and type of deck for measurements involving various sensors. Parameters such as total relative displacement of the rail with respect to the deck, vertical displacement of the deck at the ends, and horizontal support reaction generated at the supports under normal train running conditions, were recorded using a data acquisition system for a period of several days. The results of this work show that, while the limits prescribed in the codes are reasonable, further research is needed to better understand the interaction effects.