Abstract
The effect of welding residual stresses on fatigue crack growth in rail welds is studied. Finite element analysis is used to calculate residual stresses in a flash-butt welded rail. The calculated residual stresses are found to be in good agreement with experimentally determined residual stresses in a welded rail. The redistribution of residual stresses in the welded rail is simulated for a straight track, during heavy-haul operation conditions, using a train–track model. Fatigue crack growth of defects in the weld region is studied using fracture mechanics. In the investigation, a number of parameters such as the axle load, crack location, crack size and rail temperature are varied.
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