Investigation of deformation mechanisms in manganese steel crossings using FE models

Abstract A finite element model is introduced to investigate the deformation mechanisms of manganese steel crossings: (i) the plastic adaptation after installation and (ii) the long-term behaviour in track with ongoing plastic deformation. The model uses measured geometries and plastic material behaviour adapted to hardness measurements of a new and run-in explosion-depth hardened crossing nose. The plastic deformation is calculated and validated with measurements in track. To show the influences of the deformation due to repeated wheel impacts, contact forces and pressures are calculated. A detailed investigation of the geometric degradation in terms of surface deformation and plastic deformation in depth explains the observed behaviour: they are described over the calculated impact cycles with its local position on the crossing nose.