Failure Analysis of Tension Clamps (SKL15) Used in Serviced Urban Railway Tracks: Numerical Analyses and Experiments

In this study, the material properties of the damage-vulnerable parts and the residual strain of tension clamps comprising many curved parts, such as those used in urban railroads, were tested and analyzed. The effects of decreasing the strengths of the tension clamps on performance were then assessed. The permanent deformation characteristics of the tension clamps of aged specimens (6, 11, and 16 years of service) exhibited tendencies similar to the strain-hardening characteristics of the stress–strain responses reported in previous studies. As the service period increased, plastic deformation occurred in the middle bands of the tension clamps. When used for 16 years in urban railroads, the tension clamps underwent ~10% deformation compared with their initial shapes. Furthermore, based on laboratory tests, the deterioration levels of the tension clamps according to the service period were examined as functions of Young’s modulus. Stress levels close to the yield strength occurred in the middle band of the tension clamp when the clamping force was introduced. As a results, it is possible to determine whether the clamping force confirms that decrease by using the Young’s moduli of tension clamps, and the deterioration of the function and the replacement time of tension clamps that may occur during service can be predicted.