Fatigue Reliability Evaluation of Casting Bolster of Heavy Haul Freight Car

A three-dimensional model of bolster of heavy haul freight train was set up in the ANSYS11.0 according to the Codes of AAR M-202-05, the stress distribution of the casting bolster was calculated and analyzed. The result shows that the fatigue strength of the bolster was adequate and the relative weak point was found out. On the basis, the actual measurement test of entire car when it was running on the rail track was performed and the stress history of the key position of the bolster was obtained. Further, the stress spectrum was worked out with rain-flow counting method. Finally, by means of the revised Minerpsilas damage rule and K_f-S-N curve of casting, the fatigue life of the bolster was predicted.