{"title":"Finite element analyses of rail head cracks: Predicting direction and rate of rolling contact fatigue crack growth","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.engfracmech.2024.110503","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A numerical framework in 3D for predicting crack growth direction and rate in a rail head is presented. An inclined semi-circular surface-breaking gauge corner crack with frictionless crack faces is incorporated into a 60E1 rail model. The investigated load scenarios are wheel–rail contact, rail bending, thermal loading, and combinations of these. The crack growth direction is predicted using an accumulative vector crack tip displacement criterion, and Paris-type equations are employed to estimate crack growth rates. Results are evaluated along the crack front for varying crack radii and crack plane inclinations. Under the combined load cases and in the presence of tractive forces, the crack is generally predicted to go deeper into the rail than under pure contact. Crack growth rates for the combined load cases are higher than (but still close to) that for pure contact. A tractive force will increase growth rates for smaller cracks, whereas a steeper (45°) inclination will decrease the growth rate under the studied conditions as compared to a shallower (25°) inclination. Results should be of use for rail maintenance planning where deeper cracks require more machining efforts.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":11576,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013794424006660/pdfft?md5=fab6b95a9df4917f673f9ba33a2ae2a1&pid=1-s2.0-S0013794424006660-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Engineering Fracture Mechanics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013794424006660","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MECHANICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
A numerical framework in 3D for predicting crack growth direction and rate in a rail head is presented. An inclined semi-circular surface-breaking gauge corner crack with frictionless crack faces is incorporated into a 60E1 rail model. The investigated load scenarios are wheel–rail contact, rail bending, thermal loading, and combinations of these. The crack growth direction is predicted using an accumulative vector crack tip displacement criterion, and Paris-type equations are employed to estimate crack growth rates. Results are evaluated along the crack front for varying crack radii and crack plane inclinations. Under the combined load cases and in the presence of tractive forces, the crack is generally predicted to go deeper into the rail than under pure contact. Crack growth rates for the combined load cases are higher than (but still close to) that for pure contact. A tractive force will increase growth rates for smaller cracks, whereas a steeper (45°) inclination will decrease the growth rate under the studied conditions as compared to a shallower (25°) inclination. Results should be of use for rail maintenance planning where deeper cracks require more machining efforts.
期刊介绍:
EFM covers a broad range of topics in fracture mechanics to be of interest and use to both researchers and practitioners. Contributions are welcome which address the fracture behavior of conventional engineering material systems as well as newly emerging material systems. Contributions on developments in the areas of mechanics and materials science strongly related to fracture mechanics are also welcome. Papers on fatigue are welcome if they treat the fatigue process using the methods of fracture mechanics.