Ensuring safety of track-laying works while long-welded rails replacement

The purpose of the work is to create safe conditions for the conducting of laying work on the replacement of rails lengths using an excavator equipped with a rail grip. The main requirement for such technologies is to eliminate the occurrence of stresses leading to plastic deformations in the rails. The technology of the works arrangement on replacement of rails is described. The calculation scheme for determining the stress–strain state of rails is developed. The analysis of calculation methods for determining the stress–strain state of rails is carried out. To solve the tasks, the finite element model of the rail is created in the Femap with NX Nastran software package. As a result of finite element modeling, the nominal values of the lifting height and boom reach are determined, amounting to 0.20 and 6.20 m, respectively, and the requirements for attachments are established. The comparative analysis of the results obtained in the finite element modeling environment showed their convergence, which indicates sufficient adequacy of the developed model and the possibility of expanding the scope of its application. The application of the results obtained in this work excludes damage to rails during their replacement and ensures the safety of excavators equipped with a rail grip.