Effect of Interface Adhesion Characteristics between Components of Embedded Tracks on Track Stability in Mountain Railways

In this study, numerical analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of interface adhesion characteristics between embedded rail system (ERS) components on the stability of mountain railway tracks. The analysis results indicated that the interface adhesion characteristics between the elastic poured compound (EPC) and concrete panel significantly influence track stability. In particular, when the length of the non-bonded interface exceeds 2 m, the buckling stability markedly decreases, and the 1st buckling mode transitions from the lateral to the vertical direction. Based on these research results, the interface adhesion between components should be periodically inspected and a systematic maintenance plan should be established to prevent the degradation of embedded track stability.