Stress analysis of joint bars of insulated rail joints due to wheel/rail contact loadings

A 3D FEA is carried out to investigate stress and strain conditions of joint bars of insulated rail joints considering vertical wheel/rail cyclic impact loadings. The Australian Standard design is used to model the insulated rail joints and associated bars. The von-Mises stresses at the critical locations of the joint bars are presented. Although the stress conditions are in the elastic range, early failure of joint bars is expected due to fatigue effects. Stress based fatigue life models are compared and assessed to identify a model that simulates closely the real fatigue life of the existing joint bars. That model can then be used to examine possible geometric design changes to joint bars that are considered to have potential to improve their stress conditions to avoid failures.