FEM Modelling Possibilities of Glued Insulated Rail Joints for CWR Tracks

Abstract

In this paper the authors detail the possibilities of modelling of finite element method (FEM) of glued insulated rail joints which are applied in railway tracks with continuously welded rails (CWR). A lot of laboratory tests (static and dynamic 3-point bending tests, axial pulling tests) were executed on glued insulated rail joints, the specimens were related to three different rail profiles applied in Hungary: MÁV 48.5; 54E1 (UIC54), 60E1 (UIC60), respectively. The static bending tests with many bay length values were conducted, before and after dynamic (fatigue) tests. 2-D beam models were made in FEM software using semi-rigid hinge as the simplified connection of fishplated glued insulated rail joint. The FEM models were calibrated and then validated with the static vertical displacement values in the middle-bay position measured in laboratory. The model validation was conducted with two methods.