Test Method for Loading Tracks Composed of a Single Set of Rail Fastening Systems for Rail Joints

Abstract

This study aims to establish a test method for loading test tracks composed of a single set of rail fastenings for rail joints. The authors of this paper constructed FEM models for railway tracks which represent rail joint parts accurately and performed an FEM analysis. The FEM results are in good agreement with the results of a load test on a test track composed of multiple sets of rail fastenings. On the basis of the FEM model, the authors proposed a test method for loading test tracks composed of a single set of rail fastenings and compared the test results of a single set of rail fastenings with those of multiple sets of rail fastenings. The results show that rail head displacements and rail tilting angles obtained by a single set of rail fastenings are in good agreement with those obtained by multiple sets of rail fastenings. Therefore, it is concluded that the proposed method based on the FEM model is able to evaluate the performance of rail fastening systems for rail joints.