LABORATORY TEST RESULTS OF GLUED INSULATED RAIL JOINTS ASSEMBLED WITH TRADITIONAL STEEL AND FIBRE-GLASS REINFORCED RESIN-BONDED FISHPLATES

Abstract

Purpose. The authors’ aim is to evaluate more precisely the deterioration process of glued insulated rail joints with polimer-composite and steel fishplates regarding to own laboratory tests. Methodology. The laboratory tests were executed by three-point static and three-point dynamic (fatigue) bending tests’ measurement results related to glued insulated rail joints with fibre-glass reinforced polymer-composite fishplates (brand: APATECH). During the research the static three-point bending tests were performed on rail joints assembled with three different rail profiles (MÁV48, 54E1 (UIC54) and 60E1 (UIC60)) with three specimens, measured on 13 different support bay values before fatigue test, as well as after 3.5 million loading cycles (the degradations process was checked after every 0.5 million cycles) on polymer-composite and steel fishplated rail joints. Findings. The investigation of fiber-glass reinforced and steel fishplated rail joints (three-point static and dynamic bending laboratory tests) are in progress. Considering to them, the mechanical deterioration processes were able to be determined by measurements of deflection values compared to original ones (i.e. before fatigue tests). The differences can be pointed out by analysis of measurement results related to both types of glued insulated rail joints (steel and polymer-composite fishplated ones). Originality. The goal of this research is to investigate the application of this new type of glued insulated rail joint and to determine the ultimate lifetime of the investigated rail joints, e.g. how much time they can be safely held in the railway track without damage. In the international literature no one has investigated this field of glued insulated rail joints. Practical value. The fibre glass reinforced resin-bonded fishplated glued insulated rail joints and ‘control’ steel fishplated glued insulated rail joints were built into railway line (between Kelenföld and Hegyeshalom state border) in Hungary at three different locations. In this article the investigation of deterioration process of glued-insulated rail joints and steel fishplated glued insulated rail joints are demonstrated only by laboratory bending tests.