Experimental Research on Vibration-Damping Effect of Combined Shear Hinge Prefabricated Steel Spring Floating Slab Track

Objective: The cast-in-place steel spring floating slab track (SSFST) is difficult to maintain and repair, while the mechanical strength of the end of the traditional prefabricated SSFST is poor. In order to overcome the above shortcomings, a shear-hinge-combined prefabricated SSFST was developed, and an indoor test was carried out to analyze its vibration-damping effect. Methods: A combined shear hinge SSFST connection model with two length sizes was established. The dynamic response amplitude and frequency response characteristics of the foundation (ground) under different isolator installations and fatigue loads were studied, and the vibration-damping performance of two sizes of combined shear hinge SSFST was evaluated. Results: The vibration-damping effect of the steel spring vibration isolator mainly acts in the middle and low-frequency bands of 16–400 Hz, and the vibration near 10 Hz will be aggravated after the vibration isolator is installed. The vibration index and variation law of the two sizes of SSFST are similar, and the vibration response of 4.8 m SSFST is slightly less than 3.6 m SSFST. There is almost no change in each index when the load is 5 million times, and there is a certain range of change when the load is 10 million times, but the overall change is small. Conclusions: The combined shear hinge prefabricated SSFST can have an excellent isolation effect on vibration and can still maintain good vibration-damping ability within 10 million fatigue loads (about 5 years); 4.8 m SSFST should be laid in straight sections with higher train speeds, while 3.6 m SSFST should be applied in curved sections to ensure smooth lines.