Kaijun Zhu

This study investigated the relationship between train speed and impact load and corresponding stress propagation around the rail joints to better understand the effectiveness of speed restrictions for bolted joint track. When train speed is reduced, the maximum contact force at the wheel–rail interface may not necessarily reduce commensurately.

Finite element simulations were performed to further study the stress distributions under these various support conditions. The results from this study can help practitioners better represent the application environment during the UBM bedding modulus tests by suggesting the appropriate support condition.

Stress distribution was investigated at the rail-end bolt hole and upper fillet areas of standard, longer, and thicker joint bars under static loading conditions. Numerical simulations were organized into a comprehensive parametric analysis performed with finite element modeling.

This study investigated the effects of bolt loading and missing-bolt configurations on the stress distribution at the bolt hole and the upper fillet area under static loading conditions. The two center bolts, which were closest to the rail end, were the most sensitive bolts in terms of variation in stresses in response to changes in bolting and torqueing.