Effect of plastic accumulation on the nucleation of cracks in railroad rails due to bidirectional loaded traffic

• Published in: International journal of fatigue Vol. 117; pp. 196 - 205
• Main Authors: Reis, Thairon, de Abreu Lima, Eduardo, Bertelli, Felipe, Antunes dos Santos Junior, Auteliano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Contact pressure; Crack initiation; Cracks; Elastoplasticity; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Fracture mechanics; Kalker theory; Materials fatigue; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Nucleation; Numerical methods; Plastic accumulation; Railroads; Railway rail; Stresses; Tensors; Wheel-rail interaction; Finite element method; Railway rail; Wheel-rail interaction; Plastic accumulation; Kalker theory

•Reversing the direction of traffic in heavy-haul railroads can cause additional plastic deformation in already plastically deformed rails.•Additional plastic accumulation in rails does not cause significant alteration in the life of rails to shelling.•Shakedown limit is reached after a few loading...