## 3 Results and Discussion
### Bending Moment Distributions Along a Bearer  
The redistribution of bending moments along bearers provides better insight on how the bearers are forced. In this section, the bending moment distributions will be presented for adjacent and unsupported bearers in the case of one unsupported bearer. Other cases are omitted as they carry similar characteristic distribution with different magnitudes of bending moments. It should also be noted that graphs are plotted when the minimum and maximum bending moments occur in the middle of the track, shown in previous sections. In other words, positive bending moments in the figure could not be maximum positive moment for those particular bearers. What is shown until this point indicates that unsupported bearers could carry significant track loads due to geometry of turnout that creates new support conditions along a bearer. The effect of idle rails that act like a support is significant and could be seen in Figures 28 and 29, where bending moment distributions of unsupported and adjacent bearers with various speeds are illustrated. As can be seen from Figure 28a, where the bending moment distribution of the unsupported bearer at entrance panel is depicted, there is no idle rail supporting the track and consequently, the force transferred to bearer is minimal, which produce a small bending moments. The magnitude of the positive and negative bending moments is approximately 1 kNm. Furthermore, the unsupported shortest bearer, which is placed at the end of turnout and illustrated in Figure 28f, exhibits similar behavior. On the other hand, the unsupported bearer under switch blades in Figure 28b reflects the contribution of the idle rail, here the open switch blade, which introduces a new support condition over the bearer. The new support causes highest negative bending moment with a value of 2.9 kNm and the positive bending moments up to 0.3 kNm at the selected point. Among the graphs in Figure 28, the most striking is that of the bending moment distribution for the unsupported bearer under the crossing nose (Figure 28d). The figure shows that the discrepancy between positive and negative bending moments of the selected point could be imperative and reach over 5.6 kNm, in which maximum negative and positive bending moments are 2.1 kNm and 3.6 kNm, respectively. Actually, it can be seen from Figure 28d that negative and positive bending moments could also be high for the other sections of the bearer, such as the section in the middle of track in the diverging route in comparison with the selected point. The effect of impact forces on bearers under crossing nose becomes more evident with investigation of bending moment distributions of other bearers. For instance, in Figure 28c, although the maximum negative bending moment for the selected point on the bearer at closure panel is the highest with a magnitude of 6 kNm, it has only positive bending moment of 0.4 kNm at the selected point. Despite higher level of bending moment difference, the one under the crossing nose is expected to be damaged earlier in terms of fatigue failure due to asymmetrical loadings. Moreover, the bending moment difference for the unsupported longest bearer seems to be inconsequential, which could be seen from Figure 28e. Maximum positive and negative bending moments for the selected point are 1.8 kNm and 0.5 kNm, respectively. The reason for such a low negative bending moment is that two tracks are relatively independent from each other, resulting in different support conditions. The track in the through route is supported by the rails in the diverging route. As a consequence, the inside rails produce maximum negative and positive moments when vehicle pass the unsupported bearer. In Figure 29, the bending moment distributions of adjacent bearers to unsupported bearers are presented based on the selected point on the bearer. It is apparent from the figure that support role of the ballast bed is the origin of positive bending moment at rail seats and negative bending moment at selected points.