A rail joint typically is one of the weakest elements of a track superstructure, primarily because of discontinuities in its geometric and mechanical properties and the high-impact loads induced by these discontinuities. The development of continuously welded rail has significantly reduced the number of rail joints, but many bolted joints remain installed in rail transit systems. Because of the unique loading environment of a rail transit system (especially high-frequency, high-repetition loads), defects related to bolted rail joints (e.g., joint bar failures, bolt hole cracks, and cracks in the upper fillet) continue to cause service failures and can pose derailment risks. Recent research in the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign has focused on investigating crack initiation in the bolt hole and fillet areas of bolted rail joints. Stress distribution was investigated at the rail-end bolt hole and upper fillet areas of standard, longer, and thicker joint bars under static loading conditions. Numerical simulations were organized into a comprehensive parametric analysis performed with finite element modeling. Preliminary results indicated that the longer joint bar performed similarly to the standard joint bar but the thicker joint bar reduced rail vertical displacement and rail upper fillet stresses compared with the standard joint bar. However, the thicker joint bar also may generate higher stresses at the rail-end bolt hole. Additionally, joint bar performance was dependent on the rail profile and bolt hole location.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Finite Element Analysis of Rail-End Bolt Hole and Fillet Stress on Bolted Rail Joints


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2017-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Effect of easement geometry on rail end fillet stress at bolted rail joints for transit track

    Qian, Yu / Dersch, Marcus S / Edwards, J Riley et al. | SAGE Publications | 2021


    Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Bolt Condition on Bolted Rail Joint Stresses

    Zhu, Kaijun / Edwards, J. Riley / Qian, Yu et al. | Transportation Research Record | 2016


    Finite element simulation of bolted joints and magnesium bolt-load retention behaviour

    Shen,G. / Xu,S. / CANMET-Materials Technology Laboratory,CA | Automotive engineering | 2007



    Finite Element Simulation of Bolted Joints and Magnesium Bolt-Load Retention Behaviour

    Shen, G. / Xu, S. / Society of Automotive Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2007