Elastic rail clip design development, based on virtual prototyping

Abstract

Virtual prototyping technology is a powerful tool when exact design solution is needed, corresponding to various and sometimes controversial requirements. It is used widely for design improvement/optimisation (topology, shape, parametric), based on engineering analysis through numerical techniques (as Finite Element Method) that enables prompt and accurate solutions. Design development approach based on this technology becomes standard for many industries, including railway transport. Presented study is based on an industrial project for design development of elastic rail clip. It is entirely based on virtual prototyping to obtain adequate design solution. Design is required to achieve certain clip rigidity, at certain level of safety (mechanical stress), for certain design space. This is a typical task for design optimisation techniques and performed simulations include 3 design concepts, 11 design variants and more than 2400 parametric configurations to obtain 4 allowable design solutions. The study is a good presentation of virtual prototyping application for industrial purposes.