Dynamic Characteristics of LIT Girder Railway Bridges

This study analyzed the dynamic characteristics of railway bridges with low-weight, innovative truss (LIT) girders and evaluated their dynamic behavior under general and high-speed railway operating conditions. A dynamic analysis was performed considering various variables, including the span length (30, 35, 40, or 45 m), track (single or double), main girder type (three or five girders), track type (concrete or ballast), and train type (KTX, HEMU, freight train, Mugunghwa, or express EMU). The train load was modeled as a moving concentrated load, and the damping ratio was applied according to railway design standards. The results of the dynamic analysis showed that in most cases, railway bridges with LIT girders met the allowable criteria for vertical deflection, vertical acceleration, and warping. However, in the case of a 30 m span bridge, the vertical acceleration exceeded the allowable limit at a specific speed of the HEMU-430X high-speed train. The results of this study can be used to evaluate the applicability of LIT girders in railway bridges and provide useful information for future design and construction.