Experimental and numerical analysis of the static‒dynamic characteristics and vibration fatigue failure mechanism of railway fastening clips

To study the static‒dynamic characteristics and vibration fatigue failure mechanism of railway fastening clips, the modal characteristics of the clip in free and installed states are obtained via field experiments, and a refined finite element model of the fastening system is established and verified. Then, static‒dynamic analysis and frequency response analysis are carried out based on the numerical model, and the effects of the system excitation with varied amplitudes and frequencies on the vibration fatigue life of the clip and the distribution characteristics of clip fatigue damage peril points (CFDPPs) are investigated. Eventually, method of dividing the clip vibration fatigue sensitive frequency range (CVFSFR) is proposed. The results show that the fatigue life of the clip is significantly affected by resonance, and the resonance at the 2nd-order natural frequency caused by high-frequency excitation is an important reason for the fatigue failure of the fastening clip.