Train and track interactions during services normally generate substantial forces on railway tracks. Such forces are transient by nature and of relatively large magnitude and are referred to as impact loading. There has been no comprehensive review of the typical characteristics of the loading conditions for railway track structures, in particular, impact loads due to the wheel/rail interaction, published in the literature. This paper presents a review of basic design concepts for railway tracks, abnormalities on tracks, and a variety of typical dynamic impact loadings imparted by wheel/rail interaction and irregularities. The characteristics of typical impact loads due to wheel and rail irregularities, e.g. rail corrugation, wheel flats and shells, worn wheel and rail profiles, bad welds or joints, and track imperfections, are presented with particular emphasis on the typical shapes of the impact load waveforms generally found on railway tracks. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A review of loading conditions for railway track structures due to train and track vertical interaction

The static and dynamic approaches to the determination of design wind loads have been summarised along with the various assumptions, approximations and limitations involved. The application of these two approaches using the Australian Standard AS1170.2 is discussed along with comparisons from wind tunnel measurements.

Wind loading of structures

Multivariate Statistical Simulation

Sensitivity analysis of free vibration characteristics of an in-situ railway concrete sleeper to variations of rail pad parameters

Bu ilding Informat ion Modeling (BIM) is a set of digital tools that can manage construction projects effectiveness. BIM has been used by the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries in Malaysia. The idea to imp lement BIM in Malaysia was introduced by the Director of Public Works Depart ment (PWD) in 2007. The aim of this paper is to exp lore BIM imp lementation in Malaysian construction industry. A literature review was done to exp lore previous BIM studies on definitions and history of BIM, construction issues, application of BIM and BIM tools in construction projects as well as benefits of BIM . Malaysian government encourages construction players to apply BIM to construction projects because it can overcome construction project problems such as delay, clash of design by different professionals and construction cost overrun. Autodesk tools have been suggested by the government as a BIM tool platform. Other tools include Revit Architecture, Revit St ructural, Revit M EP, Navisworks and Cost-X. It is crucial for construction players to be aware of the importance of BIM applicat ion in construction projects. This is because BIM can be one of the conditions required of a co mpany to qualify for government and private projects, similar to what is practiced in some other countries. Moreover, BIM helps to increase construction project efficiency and effectiveness. It can also be imp lemented to improve commun ication and collaboration between construction players. The implementation of BIM technology is expected to become mo re widespread in Malaysian construction industry because of the government's effo rts in pro moting BIM .

/pdf/building-information-modeling-bim-application-in-malaysian-38mq0ja96i.pdf

Building Information Modeling (BIM) Application in Malaysian Construction Industry

Uncertainties in codal recommendations for across-wind load analysis of R/C chimneys

Glass fiber reinforced gypsum (GFRG) wall panels are prefabricated panels with hollow cores, originally developed in Australia and subsequently adopted by India and China for use in buildings. This paper discusses identification and calibration of a suitable hysteretic model for GFRG wall panels filled with reinforced concrete. As considerable pinching was observed in the experimental results, a suitable hysteretic model with pinched hysteretic rule is used to conduct a series of quasi-static as inelastic hysteretic response analyses of GFRG panels with two different widths. The calibration of the pinching model parameters was carried out to approximately match the simulated and experimental responses up to 80% of the peak load in the post peak region. Interestingly, the same values of various parameters (energy dissipation and pinching related parameters) were obtained for all five test specimens.

Calibration of a hysteretic model for glass fiber reinforced gypsum wall panels

Improved procedure for estimating short-term deflections in RC slabs

The gopuram (multi-tiered entrance gateway) and the mandapam (pillared multi-purpose hall) are two representative structural forms of South Indian temples. Modelling and seismic analysis of a typical 9-tier gopuram and, 4- and 16-pillared mandapam of the 16th century AD Ekambareswar Temple in Kancheepuram, South India, are discussed. The seismic input is based on a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of the archaeological site. Two modelling strategies, namely lumped plasticity and distributed plasticity modelling, and three analysis approaches, namely linear dynamic, non-linear, static and dynamic analyses were adopted for the seismic assessment of the gopuram. Unlike slender masonry towers, the vulnerable part of the gopuram could be at the upper levels, which is attributable to higher mode effects, and reduction in cross section and axial stresses. Finite element and limit analysis approaches were adopted for the assessment of the mandapam. Potential collapse mechanisms were identified, and the governing collapse of lateral load, calculated based on limit theory, was compared with the seismic demand as a safety check. Simple relations, as a means of rapid preliminary seismic assessment, are proposed for the mandapam.

/pdf/modelling-and-analysis-of-south-indian-temple-structures-4q1is8o2gn.pdf

Devdas Menon

Papers

Uncertainties in codal recommendations for across-wind load analysis of R/C chimneys

Calibration of a hysteretic model for glass fiber reinforced gypsum wall panels

Improved procedure for estimating short-term deflections in RC slabs

Modelling and analysis of South Indian temple structures under earthquake loading

Seismic evaluation of RC stepped building frames using improved pushover analysis