Probability of instant rail break induced by wheel-rail impact loading using field test data

The probability of an instant rail break, initiated at a single pre-existing rail foot crack due to a severe wheel impact loading, is predicted using statistical methods and a time-domain model for the simulation of dynamic vehicle-track interaction. A linear elastic fracture mechanics approach is e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of rail transportation (Online) Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 1 - 23
Main Authors: Nielsen, Jens CO, Abrahamsson, Thomas JS, Ekberg, Anders
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.01.2022
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:
dynamic vehicle-track interaction
Field tests
Fracture mechanics
Fracture toughness
Impact loads
Impact prediction
Linear elastic fracture mechanics
rail break probability
Statistical analysis
Statistical methods
Stress intensity
subset simulation algorithm
Temperature gradients
thin plate spline
Thin plates
Wheel-rail impact loads
ISSN:2324-8378, 2324-8386, 2324-8386
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The probability of an instant rail break, initiated at a single pre-existing rail foot crack due to a severe wheel impact loading, is predicted using statistical methods and a time-domain model for the simulation of dynamic vehicle-track interaction. A linear elastic fracture mechanics approach is employed to calculate the stress intensity at the crack in a continuously welded rail subjected to combined bending and temperature loading. Based on long-term field measurements in a wayside wheel load detector, a three-parameter probability distribution of the dynamic wheel load is determined. For a faster numerical assessment of the probability of failure, a thin plate spline regression is implemented to develop a meta-model of the performance function quantifying the stress intensity at the crack. The methodology is demonstrated by investigating the influence of initial crack length, fracture toughness and rail temperature difference on the risk for an instant rail break.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
ISSN:2324-8378
2324-8386
2324-8386
DOI:10.1080/23248378.2021.1874552