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• Tensile and shear tests of composite concrete specimens were conducted. • CZM parameters were obtained using DIC technique. • A 3-D finite element model reflecting interface damage was established. • The effects of different cohesive parameters on the interface damage were analyzed. Debonding between the track slab and self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a common form of damage in China railway track system (CRTS) III prefabricated slab tracks. To investigate the influence of interlayer cohesive parameters on the interface connection, composite specimens of track slabs and SCC were made to be used for splitting tensile and shear tests. The variation characteristics between the interface's tension and displacement were obtained using digital image correlation (DIC) techniques, and the key parameters of a cohesive zone model (CZM) were determined and used to simulate the cracking behavior. Also analyzed was the interlayer damage behavior of the composite specimen using ABAQUS, the results of which were compared with those of the tests. Furthermore, a finite element simulation model of the CRTS III prefabricated slab track with CZM was used to analyze the impact of different cohesive parameters on interlayer damage under train loads and varying temperature gradient loads. The results show that: I). The DIC technique accurately describes the entire process from the damage initiation and propagation, to complete failure of the interface-bonded components; II). The finite element simulation results of the concrete composite specimens agree with the experimental results, indicating the CZM accurately reflects the interlayer cracking behaviors; III). Reducing the interface stiffness and increasing the critical fracture energy can slightly delay the onset of interface damage and debonding, respectively; IV). An increase in the cohesive strength can effectively inhibit the development of interface damage, for example, increasing the normal and tangential cohesive strength can improve the starting temperature gradient for interlayer damage initiation by 150 % and 45 %, respectively; and V). Under large positive temperature gradients (>70 °C/m), the interlayer debonding rate corresponding to most cohesive parameters reaches 100 % (complete failure of adhesion), making extreme temperature areas a necessary focus on the interlayer debonding of slab tracks. The research results of this paper can be used to analyze the damage behavior between the track slab and SCC layer, and provide a theoretical basis for the design and maintenance of CRTS III prefabricated slab track. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]