Analytical and Numerical Modeling of Vehicle-Superstructure-Substructure Interaction Problems
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Analytical and Numerical Modeling of Vehicle-Superstructure-Substructure Interaction Problems

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Abstract

This dissertation aimed to devise predictive tools for analyzing various support structuresof a high-speed rail (HSR) system to support their design under operational and seismic loads. The detailed objectives are (i) to implement a vehicle-bridge-interaction (VBI) method for analyzing coupled train-track coupled dynamics, (ii) to develop a finite ele- ment (FE) approach for analyzing the interaction of a local domain with a moving load (as the load enters, traverses, and leaves the local domain) based on the application of Perfectly-Matched-Layers (PMLs) and the Domain Reduction Method (DRM), and (iii) to carry out various application studies that explore the interaction of moving loads with flexible or buried structures using the tools developed to verify them and to demonstrate their utility. The methods described above are implemented in commercial finite element analysis software ABAQUS through a combination of MATLAB codes and ABAQUS’ user-defined element (UEL) subroutine interface. These implementations were carried out to enhance the potential impact of the analysis tools developed as part of this dissertation and broaden their applicability. The computational efficiency afforded by the developed tools obviates the need to carry out simulations with large finite element domains (through the use of PML+DRM and proper injection of boundary conditions emanating from far- field (inbound vehicle and/or seismic) loads at the truncated domain boundaries) and to develop explicit multi-degree-of-freedom dynamic models of the considered vehicles.

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This item is under embargo until September 15, 2024.