###### Abstract  
The prediction of additional stresses in ballasted track due to subgrade deformation is the main objective of the present paper. In this context, a 2D finite element model of ballasted railway track was built using the ANSYS Workbench program. Based on this model, an investigation of stresses and deformation values of track elements was conducted in three cases with different contact types. It was found that the case introducing the status of a new track, which has frictional contacts between sleepers and ballast with bonded contacts between other elements, has lower stresses in most of the track elements. Moreover, this case was applied for studying the effect of the settlement on track elements. It was found that stresses increased with increasing the settlement value. The average percentages of increased stresses are 4.18%, 5.85%, and 7.21% in railhead, tie plate, and sleeper, respectively, due to a 1 mm increase in the settlement. Finally, a second-degree polynomial equation was derived to predict the additional stresses in each element due to track settlement. It is expected that this study would help to decrease the maintenance costs and extend the service life of the track elements by predicting the additional stresses in them. ballasted track; track element; subgrade settlement; additional stress; FEM 2021 11 2021 11 8501 11 8501 11 August 2021 11 8501 11 8501 11 8501 11 8501 11 8501 11 8501 11 8501 11 8501 11 8501 11 11 8501 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11  
for rail transportation, leading to an increase in the number and loads of trains \"passengers or freights\" per day, negatively affected the pipelines under the track. Settlement is one of the permanent obstacles which faces railway tracks. It is considered the most consuming item of maintenance cost. It could lead to many other problems in rolling stocks and track, such as rail and wheel surface irregularity, degradation of track geometry, vehicle derailments, deterioration of track elements over time due to increasing stresses, etc. [10; 11; 12; 13]. There are many reasons causing track settlement, depending on what and where the defect type is. The following are some of these reasons: fouling of the ballast layer with breaking of ballast stones corners when the fouling proportion is higher than 20% [14], lower suction of subgrade soil [15], raising of groundwater level with water seepage [16; 17], organic and inorganic contamination [18; 19; 20; 21], settlement of civil works under or near railway tracks, etc. Settlement of the subgrade soil can produce rail irregularities and increase the deterioration of the ballast layer, which can affect directly the smoothness and stability of running trains. Figure 2 shows the consequences of settlement with length and depth about 300 cm and 10 cm, respectively, which caused a freight train derailment accident in England. The report explained that this accident had dreadful effects on the track elements and the rolling stocks [22]. Moreover, in the service of high-speed railways, subgrade settlement has been observed. A differential subgrade settlement of 1.5 cm was found in Germany in the Berlin-Hamover high-speed railway sector [23]. Moreover, the settlement of one pier of longitudinal connected tracks (LCT) could increase the tensile stresses for slabs and bases at the settled pier and place of the two adjacent piers [24]. That would decrease the LTC stability and safety of running trains. Therefore, it is suggested that the allowable settlement value must be less than 1.05 cm. Analyzing track settlement depending on field tests and large-scale tests needs substantial financial and technological assistance to plan and set up large-scale instruments. Moreover, it is risky, difficult, and it may lead to traffic disruption. Alternatively, using the finite element method (FEM), such as the ANSYS Workbench program, is supportive to understand the behavior of the actual track in different conditions.