PSI - Issue 57

Elena Sidorov et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 57 (2024) 316–326 Author name / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

324

9

relevant wheel load range load range relevant for light crane service

relevant wheel load range load range relevant for light crane service

(a)

(b)

Fig. 9. Dependency ofrail weld pressure calculated by FE and Equation (3) on (a) stiffness of crane rail, b) stiffness of crane runway beam

Table 1. Investigated crane runway beam sections Sections Flange Width [mm]

Web Depth [mm]

Thickness [mm]

Thickness [mm]

HEA 200

200 280 300

10 13 30

170 244 300

6,5

HEA 280 (‘reference case’)

8

Welded I-section

12

The FE model predicts higher weld pressures for the welded I-section (stiffer than reference case) in the relevant wheel load range in comparison to Eq. (3). The maximum underestimation of the FE results by Eq. (3) amounts to 36 %. In contrast, Eq. (3) overestimates the weld pressures for the HEA 200 (softer than reference case) by 47 %. Thus, the beam stiffness seems to have a significant influence on the weld pressure, while it is no input parameterof Eq. (3). As conclusion, an increasing crane runway beam stiffness results in a higher rail weld pressure.

4.3.4. Weld size

Figure 10a illustrates the influence of a varying weld size on the weld pressure depending on the wheel load level. The FE results for the considered three weld sizes ( a = 3 mm, 5 mm and 7 mm) are represented by the continuous curves and the outcome of Eq. (3) by the broken curves. Weld sizes larger than 7 mm would require a multi-run weld that should be avoided for intermittent rail welds. It is obvious that all curves representing the FE results for the different weld sizes are close to each other. The small differences of the weld pressures suggest that the weld size is no significant input parameter. The deviation of the FE results from Eq. (3) disproportionately grows with increasing wheel loads.

4.3.5. Weld length

The effect of different weld lengths h = 50 mm, 76 mm and 100 mm on the weld pressure is depicted in Figure 10b. The curves resemble those in Figure 10a. The difference between the considered weld lengths is negligible. Under a wheel load of 100 kN, the weld pressure reduces by 2.2 % for a weld length of 76 mm and by 6 % for a weld length of 100 mm in comparison to the reference case. The results of Eq. (3) are safe-sided compared with the FE model.