Analysis of fatigue crack propagation in rails under combined action of wheel load and residual stress. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yang; Chen, Jinjie; Wang, Jianxi; Chen, Long
• Is Part Of: Engineering failure analysis. Volume 115(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Rail -- Residual stress -- Fatigue crack -- Crack tip displacement -- Crack propagation; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Pannes -- Périodiques; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Reliability (Engineering); System failures (Engineering); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.104689
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-6307

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Residual stress affects crack tip displacements of rail cracks. CTSD amplitude increases with increasing wheel-rail friction coefficient. Oblique crack propagates as the combined type of II/III dominated by type II. Abstract: Fatigue crack is one of the main damages that reduce rail service life and raise rail maintenance costs. In this paper, a three-dimensional elastic–plastic finite element model of wheel-rail contact is established, in which a three-dimensional oblique crack is inserted in the rail. Taking crack tip displacements as fracture parameters, the effect of residual stress on fatigue crack propagation of rails is quantitatively analyzed, and the fatigue crack propagation mechanism of rails under the combined action of wheel load and residual stress are studied. Results show that crack tip displacements under the action of wheel load are quite different from that under the combined action of wheel load and residual stress. For the oblique crack with crack tip entering the residual tensile stress zone, crack tip sliding displacement amplitude increases with the increase of wheel-rail friction coefficient. Under the combined action of wheel load and residual stress, the oblique crack propagates as the combined type of II/III dominated by type II.