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Structural analysis for the design of a lightweight composite railway axle

Johnson, M. S.; Evans, R.; Mistry, P. J.; Li, S.; Bruni, S.; Bernasconi, A.; Cervello, S.

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Authors

R. Evans

P. J. Mistry

S. Li

S. Bruni

A. Bernasconi

S. Cervello



Contributors

Abstract

The unsprung masses associated with the axles of a railway vehicle result in costly impact damage to the rail infrastructure. A hybrid metallic-composite (HMC) railway axle is evaluated using finite element analysis. The axle mass is 74 kg, 63% lighter than an equivalent hollow steel axle. The HMC railway axle comprises a full length, carbon fibre reinforced, epoxy matrix composite tube with secondary overwrapping for stiffness and EA1N grade steel collars creating the wheel seats and journal surfaces. Maximum axle deflection is 1.72 mm with a misalignment at the journals of 0.21°, potentially requiring a bearing reassessment. Nominal bending stress in the axle is 99.3 MPa (Tsai-Wu damage index of 0.18). Peak bending and torsional stresses result in Tsai-Wu damage indexes of 0.71 and 0.42, respectively. The methodology in this paper can be extended to the design of future lightweight composite shafts to benefit many other industries.

Citation

Johnson, M. S., Evans, R., Mistry, P. J., Li, S., Bruni, S., Bernasconi, A., & Cervello, S. (2022). Structural analysis for the design of a lightweight composite railway axle. Composite Structures, 290, Article 115544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.115544

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 1, 2022
Online Publication Date Apr 6, 2022
Publication Date Jun 15, 2022
Deposit Date Aug 26, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Composite Structures
Print ISSN 0263-8223
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 290
Article Number 115544
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.115544
Keywords Civil and Structural Engineering; Ceramics and Composites
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/10366698
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263822322003336?via%3Dihub

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