Numerical analysis of rail surface crack propagation under cyclic rolling-sliding contact loads

Conference paper (2016)

Authors

Y. Ma Railway Engineering - CEG
V.L. Markine Railway Engineering - CEG
AA Mashal External organisation
Research Group
Railway Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Engineering Structures

Research Group

Railway Engineering

Abstract

In this paper, a numerical procedure for surface crack propagation analysis is proposed. The complex stress-strain state for wheel-rail (W/R) contact is analysed by means of the sub-modelling approach together with the transient dynamic W/R rolling contact simulation. For that purpose, a three-dimensional semi-elliptical surface crack model is developed and utilized to analyse the stress/strain field around the crack tip. The validity of this procedure has been successfully confirmed using a comparison of simulation results and cutting boundary verification. The fracture parameters that are commonly used to characterize the crack propagation tendency are calculated with the domain integral approach. The influence of the crack geometry on the variation of the fracture parameters is assessed. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the proposed procedure is effective and efficient enough to perform the crack propagation analysis.