Cyclic plastic deformation of rails in rolling/sliding contact -quasistatic FE calculations using different plasticity models

A quasistatic FE model for calculating plastic deformations of railway rails caused by rolling/sliding wheels is introduced. A method for transferring 3D loads to 2D rolling models is shown, and its limitations are demonstrated. The necessary mesh size and rolling length are derived for an efficient modelling of many cycles. The model uses three different material models for the rail: a Chaboche-type model, and two hyperelasto-plastic models. Main results of the model are accumulated equivalent plastic strains PEEQ and plastic longitudinal displacements u(x). For similar loads, 2D models calculate severely higher PEEQ and u(x) values than the 3D models. Calculations are done for up to 1400 cycles and differences in the modelling of the rail material are shown.