Learning Forum

[Szabolcs Attila Kollo]

Hello 

I am modeling a railway track system, which consists of different concrete layers, as you can see in the pictures. The aim of the FE model is to investigate the occuring shear stresses in the steel dowels, which connect the bottom (second) concrete layer. There are dilatation gaps between the concrete plates. The plates have elastic supports with different stiffnesses (the middle plate has a soft support, at the extremities the plates have a stiffer support). The wheel loads act on the top surface of the plates....but according to the calculations I have no stresses in the dowels. Although the plates in vertical direction have different displacements due to the different support conditions. The connection between the dowels and the concrete plates I defined as a  "Bounded" Connection. I expected shear stress in the dowels, as they have to compensate for vertical movements. I think the connection between the concrete plate and the dowels are not correct. Thats why I have no stresses. What is your recommendation? What shall I change? Thank You !

Szabi

[Szabolcs Attila Kollo]

Pictures about  the concrete - steel dowel connection

[Sampat Kumar]

Hi 
Will you please upload a screenshot of the boundary condition that you have applied? Have you checked the contact status between the steel rod and the concrete plate?

Regards,
Sampat

 

[Szabolcs Attila Kollo]

Hello Sampat,

Thank you very much for your answer. Naturally I send the pic with my boundary conditions. I have elastic support below the plates, with different stiffnesses (the middle plate has a soft support, at the extremities the plates have a stiffer support). Furthermore I applied the dispalcement (which allow the free moving of the plates on on X and Z direction, and it is blocked on Y direction) on the faces of the top concrete plates in Y direction.

Between the concrete and steel dowel I applied a bounded contact. But I tried applying other contact types as well. But it is not working. 

Sorry for the order of the pictures. IIt is exactly the opposite of the subject in the text.

Regards, Szabi

[Sampat Kumar]

Hi Szabi, 
Will you please check the contact? I can see in the screenshot, you have selected the body in the contact and target instead of the surface. Please select the surface. 

Regards,
Sampat