Influence of geometric elements on the pressure distribution and the state of tension at non-Hertzian wheel-rail contact

Abstract

In view of the trends of increased traffic speeds, increase axle load, but also the reduction of the losses of material from the wheel and rail due to wear phenomena, the appearance of undulating wear, fractures of the wheel and rail, it is necessary to know the pressure distribution and the state of tension at wheel-rail contact. This can be obtained either by the finite element method (FEM). Using an elastic body modelling, a very rapid FEA model was obtained for solving the pressure distribution at concentrated wheel-rail contact, for real surfaces, modelling absolutely necessary for any study requiring analysis of the state of tension at such a request, for different situations of this interaction, modifying only the input data: geometric model of wheel and rail, longitudinal elasticity modulus, transverse contraction coefficient, load on wheel, etc.