The effect of the discontinuity of the rail ends and the
presence of lower modulus insulation material at the gap to the
variations of stresses in the insulated rail joint (IRJ) is presented. A
three-dimensional wheel – rail contact model in the finite element
framework is used for the analysis. It is shown that the maximum stress
occurs in the subsurface of the railhead when the wheel contact occurs
far away from the rail end and migrates to the railhead surface as the
wheel approaches the rail end; under this condition, the interface
between the rail ends and the insulation material has suffered
significantly increased levels of stress concentration. The ratio of the
elastic modulus of the railhead and insulation material is found to alter
the levels of stress concentration. Numerical result indicates that a
higher elastic modulus insulating material can reduce the stress
concentration in the railhead but will generate higher stresses in the
insulation material, leading to earlier failure of the insulation material
[1] Tan, X., and Bushan, B.: A numerical three-dimensional model for the
contact of rough surfaces by variational principle. Journal of Tribology.
118: 33-42, 1996.
[2] Li, J., and Berger, E. J.: A Boussinesq-Cerruti solution set for constant
and linear distribution of normal and tangential load over a triangular
area. Journal of Elasticity. 63: 137-151, 2001.
[3] Wilner, K.: Fully coupled frictional contact using elastic halfspace theory.
Journal of Tribology. 130: 031405, 2008.
[4] Chen, W. W., and Wang, Q. J.: A numerical static friction model for
spherical contacts of rough surfaces, influence of load, material and
roughness. Journal of Tribology. 131: 031405, 2009.
[5] Liu, S., and Hua, D. Y.: Three-dimensional semiperiodic line
contact-periodic in contact length direction. Journal of Tribology. 131:
021408, 2009.
[6] Hetenyi, M.: A general solution for the elastic quarter space. Journal of
Applied Mechanics, Transactions of the ASME. 39: 75-80, 1970.
[7] Keer, L. M., Lee, J. C., and Mura, T.: Hetenyi-s elastic quarter space
problem revised. International Jounal of Solids & Structures. 19:
497-508, 1983.
[8] Hanson, M.T., and Keer, L. M.: A simplifies analysis for an elastic
quarter-space. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math.. 43: 561-588, 1990.
[9] Guilbault, R., Gosselin, C. and Cloutier, L.: Express model for load
sharing and stress analysis in helical gears. ASME Journal of Mechanical
Design. 127: 1161-1172, 2005.
[10] Guilbault, R.: A fast correction for elastic quarter-space applied to 3D
modeling of edge contact problems. Journal of Tribology. 133: 031402,
2011.
[11] Gerber, C. E.: Contact problems for the elastic quarter plane and the
quarter space, Doctoral dissertation, Stanford University, CA, U.S.A,
1968.
[12] Erdogan, F. and Gupta, G.D.: Contact and crack problems for an elsatic
wedge, International Journal of Engineering Science. 14: 155-164, 1976.
[13] Hanson, M .T., and Keer, L. M.: Stress analysis and contact problems for
an elastic quarter-plane. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math.. 42: 363-383, 1989.
[14] Keer, L.M., Lee, J.C. and Muta, T.: A contact problem for the elastic
quarter space. International Journal of Solids & Structures. 20: 513-524,
1984.
[15] Bosakov, S.V.: Ritz-s method in the contact problems of the theory of
elasticity. Belarusian National Technical University (2007).
[16] Guenfoud, S., Bosakov, S.V. and Laefer, D.F.: A Ritz-s method based
solution for the contact problem of a deformable rectangular plate on an
elastic quarter-space. Internatoinal Journal of Solids & Structures. 47:
1822-1829, 2010.
[17] Yan, W. and Fischer, F.D.: Applicability of the Hertz contact theory of
rail-wheel contact problems. Archive of Applied Mechanics. 70:
255-268, 2000.
[18] Chen, Y.C.: The effect of proximity of a rail end in elastic-plastic contact
between a wheel and a rail. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 217: 189-201, 2003.
[19] Chen, Y.C., and Kuang, J.H.: Contact stress variations near the insulated
rail joints. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:
Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 216: 265-274, 2002.
[20] Wen, Z., Jin, X. and Zhang, W.: Contact-impact stress analysis of rail
joint region using the dynamic finite element method. Wear. 258:
1301-1309, 2005.
[21] Cai, W., Wen, Z., Jin, X. and Zhai, W.: Dynamic stress analysis of rail
joint with height difference defect using finite element method.
Engineering Failure Analysis. 14: 1488-1499, 2007.
[22] Sandström, J., and A Ekberg, A.: Numerical study of the mechanical
deterioration of insulated rail joints. Proceedings of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 223:
265-273, 2008.
[1] Tan, X., and Bushan, B.: A numerical three-dimensional model for the
contact of rough surfaces by variational principle. Journal of Tribology.
118: 33-42, 1996.
[2] Li, J., and Berger, E. J.: A Boussinesq-Cerruti solution set for constant
and linear distribution of normal and tangential load over a triangular
area. Journal of Elasticity. 63: 137-151, 2001.
[3] Wilner, K.: Fully coupled frictional contact using elastic halfspace theory.
Journal of Tribology. 130: 031405, 2008.
[4] Chen, W. W., and Wang, Q. J.: A numerical static friction model for
spherical contacts of rough surfaces, influence of load, material and
roughness. Journal of Tribology. 131: 031405, 2009.
[5] Liu, S., and Hua, D. Y.: Three-dimensional semiperiodic line
contact-periodic in contact length direction. Journal of Tribology. 131:
021408, 2009.
[6] Hetenyi, M.: A general solution for the elastic quarter space. Journal of
Applied Mechanics, Transactions of the ASME. 39: 75-80, 1970.
[7] Keer, L. M., Lee, J. C., and Mura, T.: Hetenyi-s elastic quarter space
problem revised. International Jounal of Solids & Structures. 19:
497-508, 1983.
[8] Hanson, M.T., and Keer, L. M.: A simplifies analysis for an elastic
quarter-space. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math.. 43: 561-588, 1990.
[9] Guilbault, R., Gosselin, C. and Cloutier, L.: Express model for load
sharing and stress analysis in helical gears. ASME Journal of Mechanical
Design. 127: 1161-1172, 2005.
[10] Guilbault, R.: A fast correction for elastic quarter-space applied to 3D
modeling of edge contact problems. Journal of Tribology. 133: 031402,
2011.
[11] Gerber, C. E.: Contact problems for the elastic quarter plane and the
quarter space, Doctoral dissertation, Stanford University, CA, U.S.A,
1968.
[12] Erdogan, F. and Gupta, G.D.: Contact and crack problems for an elsatic
wedge, International Journal of Engineering Science. 14: 155-164, 1976.
[13] Hanson, M .T., and Keer, L. M.: Stress analysis and contact problems for
an elastic quarter-plane. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math.. 42: 363-383, 1989.
[14] Keer, L.M., Lee, J.C. and Muta, T.: A contact problem for the elastic
quarter space. International Journal of Solids & Structures. 20: 513-524,
1984.
[15] Bosakov, S.V.: Ritz-s method in the contact problems of the theory of
elasticity. Belarusian National Technical University (2007).
[16] Guenfoud, S., Bosakov, S.V. and Laefer, D.F.: A Ritz-s method based
solution for the contact problem of a deformable rectangular plate on an
elastic quarter-space. Internatoinal Journal of Solids & Structures. 47:
1822-1829, 2010.
[17] Yan, W. and Fischer, F.D.: Applicability of the Hertz contact theory of
rail-wheel contact problems. Archive of Applied Mechanics. 70:
255-268, 2000.
[18] Chen, Y.C.: The effect of proximity of a rail end in elastic-plastic contact
between a wheel and a rail. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 217: 189-201, 2003.
[19] Chen, Y.C., and Kuang, J.H.: Contact stress variations near the insulated
rail joints. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:
Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 216: 265-274, 2002.
[20] Wen, Z., Jin, X. and Zhang, W.: Contact-impact stress analysis of rail
joint region using the dynamic finite element method. Wear. 258:
1301-1309, 2005.
[21] Cai, W., Wen, Z., Jin, X. and Zhai, W.: Dynamic stress analysis of rail
joint with height difference defect using finite element method.
Engineering Failure Analysis. 14: 1488-1499, 2007.
[22] Sandström, J., and A Ekberg, A.: Numerical study of the mechanical
deterioration of insulated rail joints. Proceedings of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 223:
265-273, 2008.
@article{"International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Sciences:57908", author = "Nannan Zong and Manicka Dhanasekar", title = "Analysis of Rail Ends under Wheel Contact Loading", abstract = "The effect of the discontinuity of the rail ends and the
presence of lower modulus insulation material at the gap to the
variations of stresses in the insulated rail joint (IRJ) is presented. A
three-dimensional wheel – rail contact model in the finite element
framework is used for the analysis. It is shown that the maximum stress
occurs in the subsurface of the railhead when the wheel contact occurs
far away from the rail end and migrates to the railhead surface as the
wheel approaches the rail end; under this condition, the interface
between the rail ends and the insulation material has suffered
significantly increased levels of stress concentration. The ratio of the
elastic modulus of the railhead and insulation material is found to alter
the levels of stress concentration. Numerical result indicates that a
higher elastic modulus insulating material can reduce the stress
concentration in the railhead but will generate higher stresses in the
insulation material, leading to earlier failure of the insulation material", keywords = "Rail end, material interface, wheel-rail contact, stress,
finite element method", volume = "6", number = "8", pages = "1641-9", }
