98 With the increasing prevalence of continuously welded rails, the expansion of rails is no longer possible. Consequently, in long bridges where expansion joints are typically employed, the occurrence of peak stresses in the rails is concentrated. In Mechelen, the KW04 bridge spans a length of 100 m, with a maximum expansion length of 72 m. The spring characteristics of the substructure were initially established using SCIA Engineer, providing essential input for the rail-bridge model. The calculation of normal forces resulting from temperature variations and railway loads was conducted using SCIA Engineer. This calculation is nonlinear due to the complex nature of the rail-bridge connection through the ballast, which cannot be adequately described by a single spring value. Given the substantial differences in properties between short and long terms, it was necessary to aggregate results from various models. SCIA Engineer facilitated the seamless integration of these models, ensuring consistent and accessible output. Through these models, the stresses in the rails and the displacements of the bridge could be accurately determined. ARCHITECT S. Bono OWNER Infrabel NV GENERAL CONTRACTOR THV Mast CONSTRUCTION PERIOD 2008 - 2022 ENGINEERING COMPANY TUC Rail Nick Gerard Fonsnylaan 39, Brussel, Belgium www.tucrail.be RAIL-BRIDGE INTERACTION FOR BYPASS Mechelen, Belgium CIVIL STRUCTURES 2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTgyMDE=