Assessing the Structural Performance of Bolted Rail Joints Employing Various Fishplate Models via Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

In railway tracks, fishplates are attached to each side of two rail ends and secured with four bolts, providing what is known as a bolted rail joint (BRJ). This rail joint is involved in complex interactions between multiple components under wheel loads, leading to stress and deformation of each component, potentially resulting in failures of the railway track. In this study, the different roles of selected fishplate models in the structural performance of a BRJ under static load are investigated using finite element analysis with ABAQUS CAE. Three fishplate models are examined: a thin cross-section, a thick cross-section, and a modified design. The first two models are currently used in rail transportation, while the novel modified version is designed to enhance the structural performance of BRJs. Preliminary results indicate that using the modified fishplate significantly reduces stress on the upper rail fillet and fishplate. Additionally, vertical displacement in both the rail and fishplate is diminished. These improvements are expected to increase the service life and reliability of BRJs, thereby contributing to safer and more cost-effective railway operations.