Numerical Analysis and Comparison of the Pandrol and Vossloh Elastic Fastening Spring Clips

The elastic spring clip is used for fastening rail to the base (slipper, reinforced concrete base), therefore is one of the most important elements of the track. In this analysis we compared elastic spring clips of two manufacturers: Pandrol (UK) and Vossloh (Germany), from each manufacturer one clip which is mostly used on today's railways. Spring clips which we compared were the Pandrol type ''e-2000'' and Vossloh type ''SKL-12''. Besides different geometrical features the main difference between these two spring clips is that the tightening force of SKL-12 is accomplished by tightening the screw which is the main part of the assembly, with defined moment, while the e-2000 hasn't got any element which requires tightening. The numerical analysis has been done in the FAE program ABAQUS on 3D model of the spring clip, with the same loading conditions, which we find in exploitation. We compared elastic features and bearing capacity, through comparison of σ max, σ min, and σ e stresses.