Cooling High-Speed Railway Slab Tracks with Solar Reflective Coatings: A Feasibility Study

The slab track temperature is significant with respect to the safety of the vehicle. The objective of this study was to investigate the cooling effects of solar reflective coatings (SRCs) on slab tracks. Two types of coatings were applied in the outdoor environment, and a model considering reflective coatings was subsequently established. The coatings decreased the maximum temperature and maximum temperature gradient by 8 degrees C-12 degrees C and 20 degrees C/m-30 degrees C/m, respectively. The albedo of an SRC on a slab track was suggested to be greater than 0.6. The coatings exhibited superior cooling effects in case the wind scale was lower than Level 2. (C) 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.