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In this paper, a two-dimensional numerical model is developed to investigate the effect of rail pad stiffness on the wheel/rail force in a slab track with harmonic irregularity. The model consists of a vehicle, nonlinear Hertz spring, rail, rail pad, concrete slab, resilient layer, concrete base, and subgrade. The rail is simulated using the Timoshenko beam element for considering the effects of high-frequency excitation produced by short-wave irregularity. The results obtained from the model are compared with those available in the literature and from the field to prove the validity of the model. Through a parametric study, the effect of variations in rail pad stiffness, vehicle speed, and harmonic irregularity on the wheel/rail force is investigated. For the slab track without any irregularity, the wheel/rail force is at maximum when the vehicle speed reaches the critical speed. As the rail pad stiffness increases, the critical speed increases. When the amplitude of irregularity is high, wheel jumping phenomenon may occur. In this situation, as the vehicle speed and rail pad stiffness are increased, the dynamic wheel/rail force is increased. In the low-frequency range, the wheel/rail force increases as the rail pad stiffness increases. In the high-frequency range, the wheel/rail force increases as the rail pad stiffness is decreased.

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Railway fastening clips play an important role in the stability and safety of railway track systems. There are various studies conducted on fastening clip failure mechanism. Although the majority of these studies indicate that fatigue is the main cause of clip failure, little attentions has been paid to parameters influencing clip fatigue characteristics. In response to this need, a new testing machine was developed by which the structural and loading conditions of fastening clips are simulated in a laboratory. Clip permanent deformations were measured for various track operational conditions, and consequently correlations were developed between clip plastic defamations and track axle loads as well as train speeds. The results obtained pave the way of determining the required clip maintenance cycles for various track loading conditions.