Numerical Modelling on Seismic Responses of High-Speed Railway Track-Bridge Systems Using Combined Curved Steel Dampers with Novel Porous Energy-Absorbing Materials

Liqiang Jiang^1,2, Ziyi Kong¹, Fengqi Guo^1,*, Wei Guo^1,2, Lizhong Jiang^1,2, Yijun Liu¹, Wangbao Zhou^1,2, Peng Jiang³, Lijie Han³
1 School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
2 National Engineering Laboratory for High-Speed Railway Construction, Changsha, China
3 China Railway 9th Bureau Group Co., Ltd., Shenyang, China
* Corresponding Author: Fengqi Guo. Email: email

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2026.086915

Received 07 June 2026; Accepted 28 August 2026; Published online 14 September 2026

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Abstract

High-speed railway bridges are critical infrastructure in seismically active regions; however, their complex track-bridge interaction poses significant challenges to conventional seismic protection systems. To mitigate seismic damage risks and enhance post-earthquake recoverability of high-speed railway bridges, this paper proposes a combined curved steel damper (CCSD) that incorporates a novel porous energy-absorbing material, which achieves stable energy dissipation through bending deformation. The hysteretic energy dissipation characteristics of the damper were investigated through refined finite element simulations. The results indicate that the damper exhibits stable energy dissipation efficiency under cyclic loading, with plump, continuous hysteresis loops and no significant pinching effect. Furthermore, a numerical model of the high-speed railway track-bridge system (HSRTBS) integrated with the damper was developed to quantify its control effect on the seismic response of the system. The results demonstrate that the damper significantly reduces the seismic response of most components: the average reduction in the peak response of bearings exceeds 40%, the reductions for components such as the girder and rail exceed 20%, and the reduction for fasteners also surpasses 10%. Although the peak response of the piers increases slightly, the damage remains at a slight level, which is within the acceptable engineering range. In summary, the damper proposed in this study can effectively control the seismic response of high-speed railway track-bridge systems, providing a reference for the seismic design and resilience enhancement of high-speed railway bridges in high-intensity seismic zones.