Abstract
A novel elastic rail clip was obtained through size improvement based on the II-type elastic rail clips to solve the fatigue failure of elastic rail clips. The metro vehicle-track coupling model and the fastener system refinement model were developed to analyze the effects of the material (38Si7 and 60Si2Mn) on the static and dynamic responses of the elastic rail clips and their fatigue performances under rail corrugation. According to the results, the elastic rail clip made of 60Si2Mn did not undergo any plastic deformation and exhibited higher strength than that made of 38Si7. Elastic rail clips made of 38Si7 and 60Si2Mn presented a consistent clamping force, natural frequency, and vibration acceleration. However, they were most sensitive to the wavelength of 50 mm. Both materials influenced the small back bending area of the elastic rail clip only. The elastic rail clip made of 60Si2Mn could meet the fatigue life requirements of 5 million times. As for the elastic rail clip made of 38Si7, the corresponding values of corrugation with the wavelength of 50 mm and 40 mm are to be controlled below 0.09 mm and 0.41 mm, respectively. The performance of the elastic rail clips to resist rail corrugation can be improved significantly through the increase in the geometric dimensions and selection of materials with higher strength.
Highlights
As the most important part of the track structure, the fastener system is a key unit that connects the rail and the subrail foundation
Many broken elastic rail clips have been found in subway lines, and the fatigue failure of elastic rail clips is often accompanied by short-pitch rail corrugation [1], which is a severe threat to the traffic safety. erefore, there is an urgent need to optimize the size of the existing elastic rail clips and for better materials selection for the elastic rail clips
Hu et al [5] set a W1type elastic rail clip for high-speed railways as a tool to study the influence of its geometric parameters on the clamping force and maximum stress. e results demonstrate that the performance of elastic rail clips can be greatly improved by increasing the projectile path T, diameter d, arch span L0, and the back bending area R2, or by reducing the clamping area b2
Summary
As the most important part of the track structure, the fastener system is a key unit that connects the rail and the subrail foundation. Future studies on the fatigue life of novel elastic rail clips under short-pitch rail corrugation are recommended; as well, the fatigue performance could be evaluated. Ferreño et al [11] proposed fatigue prediction for the SKL-1 elastic rail clip via the fatigue test and finite element method and analyzed the rationality of the heating processing technology and field installation accuracy for elastic rail clip materials. By combining fatigue analysis and cumulative damage theory, we studied the effects of clip material on the fatigue life of the elastic rail clip under rail corrugation. Taking into account the excessive complexity of characterization and prediction of elastic rail clips in the wheel-rail system, the model can be classified into two submodels, the metro vehicle-track coupling dynamic model and the refined model of fastener system, as shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), Screw spike Insulator
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