Improved Rail Fastenings

The rail fastenings consist of an elastic rail clip (ERC), a metal or plastic liner and a rubber sole pad. The sole pad is placed between the rail and the concrete sleeper. It isolates the shock on the rail, dampens the vibrations and acts as an insulator where required. The ERC provides the toe load on the rail foot, giving the binding force between the rails and the sleeper. The liner is placed between the ERC and the rail foot, acting as a spacer and provides adjustments. It is made of glass filled nylon (GFN) where insulation is required and is metallic if no insulation is needed.

Proposed increased axle load and operating speeds put higher demands on the components. Higher toe load capacity should be provided. This results in higher stresses in the ERC and the liner and reduces their fatigue life. The sole pad should provide enhanced vibration and shock isolation. These require modifications in the design of the three components.

The aim of the project is to improve the design in order to handle increased demands. It also seeks to increase the life of the three components to reduce the maintenance costs. The existing design has been tested in field and laboratory to evaluate its performance and to find ways for improvements. New materials and shapes are being tried to obtain desired improvement. The material and the shape of the rubber pad have been changed and prototypes have been made for laboratory evaluations. Work on the other two components is in an advanced stage of development.

Rail Clip fastening	Elastic Rail Clip Analysis

Project Team