Prediction of Fatigue Crack Propagation of Rail Material Using 2D Finite Element Modeling

Fatigue crack propagation in two-dimensional rail track model under constant amplitude loading was analyzed using finite element method. The stress intensity factor was predicted using the displacement correlation method that was written in FORTRAN code and exported to Post2D to run the program and utilizing the singular elements around the crack tip area with automatic remeshing model. The fatigue crack propagation is modeled through the successive linear extensions under the linear elastic assumption. To simulate the propagation a single edge angled-crack was introduced to calculate the accurate values of stress intensity factors. The fatigue crack propagation for rail track under four point bend loading model was successfully simulated. The crack was initially propagated in direction inclined to the rail head surface but changed its direction 90 degrees to rail head surface after certain crack length. The mix mode stress intensity factors were also successfully determined through the proposed model.