Abstract: “The fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of switch beam of the high speed maglev train was systematically investigated using finite element method (FEM) in this paper. Firstly, the stress hot spot of the maglev switch beam was abstained under the train running load (in-plane load) and displacement load during switch (out-of-plane load). Secondly, the stress intensity factors of the hot spot were analyzed under both in-plane and out-of-plane loads. Finally, the FCG rates and the paths for various initial crack positions and types were obtained via the FRANC 3D and ABAQUS based on the maximum circumferential stress criterion including the influence of fatigue life were derived.”

Keywords: Maglev switch beam, Stress intensity factor, Fatigue crack growth, Fatigue life