Laboratory Test Results of Glued Insulated Rail Joints Assembled With Traditional Steel and Fibre-Glass Reinforced Resin-Bonded Fishplates

2021

FU Mech Eng

Self Cite

This article summarizes the research results related to our own conducted extensive laboratory tests of polymer composite and steel fishplated glued insulated rail joints (GIRJs), namely axial tensile tests as well as vertical static and dynamic tests. The investigation dealt with the examination of GIRJs assembled with steel and special glass-fiber reinforced plastic (polymer composite) fishplates, both of them for CWR railway tracks (i.e. so-called gapless tracks or, in other words, railway tracks with continuously welded rails). The exact rail joint types were MTH-P and MTH-AP, consistently. The MTH P types have been commonly applied for many years in the CWR tracks in Europe, mainly in Hungary. The MTH-AP rail joints consist of fishplates that are produced by the APATECH factory (Russia). They are made of a fiberglass-amplified polymer composite material at high pressure and controlled temperature. This solution can eliminate electrical fishplate lock and early fatigue failures just as it can ensure adequate electrical insulation. The advantage of such rail joints can be that they are probably able to ensure the substitution of the glued insulated rail joints with relatively expensive steel fishplates currently applied by railway companies, e.g. Hungarian State Railways (MÁV). The aim of the mentioned research summarized in this paper is to formulate recommendations on technical applicability and on the technological instructions that are useful in everyday railway operation practice on the basis of the measurements and tests carried out on rail joints in laboratory.

Section: Results Of the Static And Dynamic Bending Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Main Characteristics Of the Rail Jointsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the Glued Insulated Rail Joints Applied to CWR Tracks

2021

FU Mech Eng

Self Cite

“…The details of laboratory tests' parameters can be found in Table 1. [39]. The values of maximum concentrated vertical loads can be calculated from the bending moment for each type of glued insulated rail joint and for each bay length value (see eq.…”

Section: Laboratory Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only one data pair has to be registered and used for FEM modelling from the laboratory tests from each measurement. It is the maximal vertical displacement values of middle bay point due to the maximal loading force values (they are calculated from the considered bending moment and bay length values [39].…”

Section: Parameters Of Fem Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the authors have finished laboratory and field tests on glued insulated rail joints with glass-fibre reinforced and steel fishplates the necessity of applicability of polymer-composite fishplated glued insulated rail joints (synonym of glued insulated rail joints with glass-fibre reinforced fishplates) based on FEM modelling. In their papers [37] [38] [39], they dealt with laboratory tests of IRJs and GIRJs. In publications [40] [41] [42] there are investigations related to field tests.…”

Section: Introduction and Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

FEM Modelling Possibilities of Glued Insulated Rail Joints for CWR Tracks

Major

2020

Acta Tech. Jaurinensis

Self Cite

In this paper the authors detail the possibilities of modelling of finite element method (FEM) of glued insulated rail joints which are applied in railway tracks with continuously welded rails (CWR). A lot of laboratory tests (static and dynamic 3-point bending tests, axial pulling tests) were executed on glued insulated rail joints, the specimens were related to three different rail profiles applied in Hungary: MÁV 48.5; 54E1 (UIC54), 60E1 (UIC60), respectively. The static bending tests with many bay length values were conducted, before and after dynamic (fatigue) tests. 2-D beam models were made in FEM software using semi-rigid hinge as the simplified connection of fishplated glued insulated rail joint. The FEM models were calibrated and then validated with the static vertical displacement values in the middle-bay position measured in laboratory. The model validation was conducted with two methods.

Supplementary Laboratory Investigations of Modern Plastic-Polymer Fishplates for Rail Joints

Fekete

Szalai

2019

STP

Self Cite

Purpose. The authors' goal is to determine the behavior of insulated rail joints with polymer-composite fishplates without glueing in the consideration of dynamic loadings regarding to own laboratory tests. In this paper they introduce the applied measurement opportunities. Methodology. Dynamic (fatigue) bending tests were performed by insulated rail joints assembled with plastic-polymer fishplates. The special laboratory measurements are related to digital picture/video measurement technique and assessment method executed by GOM hardware and software, as well as computer tomography according to laboratory bending tests. Findings. In previous papers the authors published the results of glued-insulated rail joints, in this period they continued their research with the investigation of rail joints with plastic-polymer fishplates without glueing. They tested two different types of rail fishplates made of plastic-polymer material. For the rail joints with fishplates but without glueing, the authors applied special measurement techniques by GOM products (Tritop, Aramis) that enable high precision digital measurement techniques with spectacular visualization results. The computer tomography records ensure the opportunity to be able to receive information about inner crackings and faults of plastic-polymer fishplates, with also high precision measurements. The assessment method has to be developed for these specific measurement methodologies to be able to compare the results and define scientific statements. Originality. Up to now any researcher and research group have been dealing with insulated rail joints with special plastic-polymer fishplates without glueing applied mentioned special techniques, no one determined the exact deterioration process of these joints, as well as the crack growing phenomenon in the cross section of the fishplates. Practical value. The research team of the authors had the possibility to see into the details of glass-fibre reinforced resin bonded plastic fishplates during laboratory tests, as well as they publish timely information in the consideration of their laboratory tests' results. This result can be applied in railway engineering at all stages: design, construction, maintenance&operation in the future.