FATIGUE ANALYSIS OF A RAIL SUBJECTED TO CONTROLLED SERVICE CONDITIONS

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-2695.1987.tb00479.x
• Publication Date: 2007-04-03T00:05:47Z
• Authors: R. C. Rice; R. Rungta
• Keywords: Paris' law; Road surface

Abstract— A fatigue analysis was conducted on a rail that placed in the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST) after detail fracture detected service. The initial crack produced service grown to failure under controlled FAST conditions simulating Knowledge of wheel/rail load history this made it an ideal candidate quantitative growth analysis. investigation revealed undulations surface were caused by changes direction traffic. angle facture surface, with respect running rail, measured each change. These results showed angles did not change significantly as depth increased, relative surface. traffic and associated provided benchmarks used estimate rate between train reversal. remained relatively constant from its size, until broke out gage side rail. After gage‐side break out, increased occurred. This paper provides documentation process development specific discussion is also included which addresses question why fractures develop, what probable driving forces are their growth.