Using fatigue parameter to predict crack initiation location by means of ۳D-finite element simulation on curved track

Dynamic modeling of wheel-rail interaction is significant in accurate fatigue analysis of railway. Both location and magnitude of wheel-rail stress must be evaluated accurately and efficiently via computational tools. In curved railway tracks, distribution of the force exerted on the wheel is complex as it is multiaxial rather than uniaxial; thus, a more comprehensive computational model is required. In this work, a numerical procedure is developed to investigate fatigue crack initiation on curved tracks by using Universal Mechanism software to specify the spectrum of axial wheel force as input to a three dimensional explicit finite element model to obtain the resulting stress at the wheel-rail contact region. A critical plane method based on low cyclic fatigue situation and multiaxial loading is used for determining the location of crack initiation and its orientation. The effect of radius on the exact location of fatigue crack initiation is established in this approach. The proposed model successfully predicts realistic wheel-rail dynamic response to cyclic loading, applying the geometry of the curved track