Numerical simulation of stress and deformation in a railway crossing

Stress/strain analysis is the key to understanding and predicting wear and fatigue behavior of a crossing. By taking into account non-linear material properties, a three dimensional elastic–plastic finite element model, which is composed of wheel, crossing and ties, is presented for the simulation of stress/deformation in a railway crossing. The influences of dynamic wheel load and wheel–crossing contact are examined. Stress, plastic strain and vertical displacement of the simulated crossing under dynamic wheel load at different wheel–crossing contact positions are investigated. The maximum vertical displacement occurs at the wheel–crossing contact region, and decreases gradually from the wheel–crossing contact region to the toe-end and heel-end of the crossing. The maximum von Mises stress and maximum equivalent plastic strain in the crossing increase remarkably with the increase of the train speed. The maximum vertical displacement in the crossing increases obviously and varies linear approximately with the train speed. The maximum von Mises stress, maximum vertical displacement and maximum equivalent plastic strain in the crossing are very sensitive to the axle load and are linear approximately with the axle load.

► We present a non-linear elastic–plastic model composed of wheel, crossing and ties.
► We study stress, plastic strain and vertical displacement of a simulated crossing.
► We examine the influences of dynamic wheel load and wheel–crossing contact positions.
► Train speed and axle load affect remarkably on mechanical properties of the crossing.