Appropriate Matching Locations of Rail Expansion Regulator and Fixed Bearing of Continuous Beam Considering the Temperature Change of Bridge

Due to the temperature change of bridges, there is a great additional force in continuously welded rails on continuous bridges. Laying rail expansion regulators is an effective measure to reduce the additional force. The nonlinear finite element model is presented for a continuously welded rail track with a rail expansion regulator resting on the embankment and simple and continuous beams, considering the temperature change of the bridge. Then, a method is proposed to determine the locations of the rail expansion regulator and the fixed bearing of the continuous beam, corresponding to the maximum additional forces of rail reaching minimum values. Their appropriate matching locations are recommended based on the obtained influence laws of any locations of the rail expansion regulator and the fixed bearing of the continuous beam on the maximum additional forces of rail. The results can provide the theoretical basis for the design of the rail expansion regulator and the fixed bearing of long-span continuous bridges.