Longitudinal Stringer Railway Track with Bituminous Base

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Railway tracks on concrete slabs face issues such as high construction costs, sensitivity to defects, longer construction times, noise, and high CO2 emissions, particularly in underground passages where old equipment restricts the passage of modern rolling stock due to size constraints.

Innovation Solution

A railway track design featuring a pair of parallel running rails supported by elongated longitudinal stringers with a bituminous aggregate base and polymerizable synthetic resin bonding, allowing for reduced height and improved durability, maintenance, and noise reduction, suitable for tunnels and other areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If concrete slabs are used for railway track construction, then structural stability and life cycle are improved, but construction cost, construction time, and CO2 emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameter from traditional concrete to bituminous mix, and changes the structural parameter from thick slabs to thin stringers (3-5 cm thickness), achieving both rapid construction and structural stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite materials combining bituminous aggregates with polymerizable synthetic resin to create a bonded layer that provides both rapid construction (no long hardening time) and structural stability, resolving the contradiction between construction speed and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If concrete slabs are used for railway track construction, then structural stability is improved, but construction cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidconstruction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive concrete slabs with more economical bituminous mix and thin stringers, achieving structural stability at lower cost through alternative materials and reduced thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the material composition to bituminous mix and reducing the thickness parameter to 3-5 cm for stringers, the invention achieves structural stability with lower material costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If concrete slabs are used for railway track construction, then structural stability is improved, but sensitivity to construction defects increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidsensitivity to construction defects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material properties to bituminous mix with polymer resin bonding, which is less sensitive to construction defects and allows for quicker repairs compared to concrete slabs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Length of moving object

If traditional railway track height is maintained, then rolling stock passage is possible, but tunnel volume is insufficient for modern rolling stock

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling stock dimensionsVSAvoidtunnel volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the track structure into thin, modular components (stringers 3-5 cm thick) that reduce overall track height while maintaining structural integrity, freeing up tunnel volume for modern rolling stock

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the thickness parameter of the track structure to 3-5 cm for stringers and achieving total height ≤25 cm, the invention reduces vertical space occupation while preserving load-bearing capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables the construction of a low-height, durable, and noise-reduced railway infrastructure with rapid implementation and maintenance, accommodating modern rolling stock and reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

the stringers being glued by a polymerizable synthetic resin on the said at least one layer of bituminous aggregates of the seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

each of the rails rests by its shoe on the stringers with the interposition of a running damping sole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3067464B1Railway track on longitudinal sleepers, manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2017.06.14 COLAS RAIL
  • EP3067464B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3067464B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3067464B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

A railway track (1) with continuous support and method of construction, the track comprising a pair of parallel running rails (7) fixed to supports (6), the supports resting on a base (3, 4) extending under the track and arranged on a platform (2). The supports are longitudinal stringers (6) elongated under each of the rails (7) and the base comprises at least one layer (3, 4) of bituminous aggregates, and in that each of the rails (7) rests by its foot on the stringers (6) with the interposition of a continuous damping pad (10), the rails (7) being fixed (8) to the stringers, the stringers being bonded by a polymerizable synthetic resin (12) to said at least one layer (3, 4) of bituminous aggregates of the base.