3D rolling contact finite element analysis of high-speed railway turnout considering ratchetting effect.

• A 3D FE model of wheelset-turnout-sleeper structure is established. • The ratcheting effect of turnout material is simulated. • A mixed implicit-explicit FE method is used to simulate the wheelset passing through the turnout. • The transient contact behavior of high-speed turnouts under cyclic loading is investigated. • The evolution of ratcheting strain of rail under different numbers of cycles and crossing speeds is discussed. The present work introduces a three-dimensional finite element model for the wheel-turnout-sleeper system, incorporating a cyclic constitutive model that accurately captures the nonlinear hardening behavior of rail steel under cyclic loadings. At the same time, a mixed implicit-explicit finite element method is employed to investigate the transient rolling contact behavior of wheel-turnout. Through dynamic analysis, the transient rolling contact status of the wheel-turnout, stress and strain responses of the turnout, and wheel-rail forces are investigated under varying crossing speeds and number of cycles. It is found that during the wheelset crossing, the contact stress remains relatively stable on the stock rail, and multi-point contact occurs at the wing rail and long point rail, and the contact stress on the surface of the long point rail is more significant. With an increase in crossing speed in the same cycle, there is a gradual rise in contact stress on the long point rail face. At the same crossing speed, with the increase in the number of cycles, the contact position between the wheelset and the long point rail gradually moves back, and the top width of the contact position gradually expands. Meanwhile, the fluctuation range of vertical displacement of the wheel center diminishes, and the wheel flange moves away from the long point rail. Additionally, a progressive accumulation of ratcheting strain is observed on the rail, and the ratcheting strain on the long point rail significantly exceeds that on the stock rail. The research results will help to provide a reference for the optimization and design of the critical cross-section profile of the long point rail and will have guiding significance for the maintenance and repair of turnouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]