Application of fracture mechanics methods to rail design and maintenance

• Published in: Engineering fracture mechanics Vol. 76; no. 17; pp. 2602 - 2611
• Main Authors: Plu, J., Bondeux, S., Boulanger, D., Heyder, R.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Maintenance; Mathematical models; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Organizations; Physics; Rail; Railroads; Rails; Railway engineering; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Tasks; Rail; Engineering design; Design process; Breaking in; Internal stress; Least squares method; Rail vehicle; Maintenance; Experimental study; Fatigue fracture; Modeling; Axle
• ISSN: 0013-7944; 1873-7315
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2009.02.025

Railway organizations are facing continuous increase in train frequency, running speed and axle load with ever limited financial resources. This is why methods broadening knowledge of external loads and internal rail stresses are of higher importance to address rail design or maintenance process. The following paper explains how the development and application of such methods has been conducted by a european partnership (called NOVUM) between railway organizations (SNCF, DB AG, RATP) and rail producer (CORUS) sharing their specific own competences, experience and material resources. Research institutes and universities (BAM, GKSS, INRETS, INSA, LMS) have been in charge of building sound numerical simulations or experimental tests and tools. Theoretical aspects of the method are described in independent paper “A global approach for modelling fatigue and fracture of rails” [1]. A first task group of the program is dedicated to the determination of external forces coming from wheel/rail and from rail/support interactions. The second and third task groups are about material properties and internal stresses inside rail section. Laboratory and track validations are undertaken in the fourth task group. Two characteristic cases are then chosen to check the developed models.