Investigation Of Glued Insulated Rail Joints With Special Fibre-glass Reinforced Plastic Fishplates

1. Introduction In this paper the authors partially summarize the results of a research on glued insulated rail joints (GIRJs) with fibre- glass reinforced plastic fishplates (brand: Apatech) related to own executed laboratory tests [2], [4]. The goal of the research is to investigate the application of this new type of glued insulated rail joint where the fishplates are manufactured at high pressure, regulated temperature, glass- fibre reinforced polymer composite plastic material. The usage of this kind of GIRJs is able to eliminate the electric fishplate circuit and early fatigue deflection and it can ensure the isolation of rails’ ends from each other by aspect of electric conductivity. The advantages of such GIRJs are the fact that the expensive replacements of insulated joints are also available which are applied currently in tracks of MÁV. 2. Research methods To achieve planned goals the following research methods are used: –literature review, –laboratory tests, –field tests, –FEM analysis. The authors introduce the results related only to laboratory tests. Several laboratory tests were executed on different rail system IRJs [1], e.g. static shear tests of glue materials, static 3-point-bending tests before dynamic fatigue tests, 3-point dynamic bending fatigue tests with 3.5 million loading cycles, static 3-point-bending tests after dynamic fatigue tests, static 3-point-bending tests after dynamic bending tests until breakage, static axial pulling tests until breakage. Static and dynamic bending and pulling tests were conducted on IRJs made with two different glue materials, as well as IRJs without glue material were also tested. Rail systems were three different types: MÁV48, 54E1 (UIC54) and 60E1 (UIC60). 3. Summary/results The authors represents the results of literature review [1], [3] as well as laboratory tests related to investigated GIRJs in figures, equations, calculations, etc. made between years 2015 and 2017. The behaviour of the GIRJs before and after dynamic fatigue tests can be compared, so the 'modification factors' are determined. As IRJs without glue material were also tested, the effect of glue material is phrased. Adequate glue material was chosen for further laboratory tests and field test, as well. 4. Acknowledgements This paper is supported by EFOP-3.6.1-16-2016-00017 project. 5. Bibliography [1]CEN/CENELEC: WG18/DG11: Mechanical requirements for joints in running rails, 2010, 32 p. [2]NÉMETH A, FISCHER SZ.: A polimer-kompozit hevederes ragasztott szigetelt sínkötések vizsgálata. Közlekedéstudományi konferencia. ”Közlekedéstervezés és irányítás a 21. században” Győr, 2016. március 24-25. (ISBN 978-615-5298-82-0). Konferencia kiadvány, 2016, pp. 403-412 [3]SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN EGYETEM: Polimer kompozit hevederek alkalmazása ragasztott szigetelt kötésekben, kutatási zárójelentés, 2012, 62 p. [4]UNIVERSITAS-GYŐR NONPROFIT KFT.: Polimer-kompozit hevederek vizsgálata laboratóriumban és dinamikus igénybevételek hatására pályában, ragasztott szigetelt kötésekben. MÁV Zrt. részére közfinanszírozású támogatásból megvalósuló kutatás-fejlesztési (K+F) munka, kutatási zárójelentés, Győr, 2017, 578 p. keywords: glued insulated rail joint, GIRJ, fibre-glass reinforced fishplate, polymer composite plastic material, laboratory test