Mechanical Wear Contact between the Wheel and Rail on a Turnout with Variable Stiffness

Abstract

The operation and maintenance of railroad turnouts for rail vehicle traffic moving at speeds from 200 km/h to 350 km/h significantly differ from the processes of track operation without turnouts, curves, and crossings. Intensive wear of the railroad turnout components (switch blade, retaining rods, rails, and cross-brace) occurs. The movement of a rail vehicle on a switch causes high-dynamic impact, including vertical, normal, and lateral forces. This causes intensive rail and wheel wear. This paper presents the wear of rails and of the needle in a railroad turnout on a straight track. Geometrical irregularities of the track and the generation of vertical and normal forces occurring at the point of contact of the wheel with turnout elements are additionally considered in this study. To analyse the causes of rail wear in turnouts, selected technical–operational parameters were assumed, such as the type of rail vehicle, the type of turnout, and the maximum allowable axle load. The wear process of turnout elements (along its length) and wheel wear is presented. An important element, considering the occurrence of large vertical and normal forces affecting wear and tear, was the adoption of variable track stiffness along the switch. This stiffness is assumed according to the results of measurements on the real track. The wear processes were determined by using the work of Kalker and Chudzikiewicz as a basis. This paper presents results from simulation studies of wear and wear coefficients for different speeds. Wear results were compared with nominal rail and wheel shapes. Finally, conclusions from the tests are formulated.

Dynamic Response Study of Overhead Contact System Portal Structure Based on Vehicle–Track–Bridge Coupled Vibration

“…The vehicle-track coupling system is divided into vehicle subsystem and track subsystem, with the wheel-rail contact surface as the boundary, and the coupling of the system model is achieved through the wheel-rail contact relationship [21,22]. A certain type of high-speed train single-car model can be simplified into a multi-rigid body system consisting of a vehicle subsystem model, including a car body, two bogies, and four wheelsets.…”

Running Dynamics of Rail Vehicles

“…Kisilowski and Kowalik focused on the wear of turnout components of high-speed tracks. In their work [1], the simulation results of a high-speed train passing a turnout under variable conditions are presented, and dynamic forces acting in wheel-rail contacts and the wear coefficient are evaluated. The variable track stiffness along the switch is taken into the account in their model.…”

Assessment of Dynamics of a Rail Vehicle in Terms of Running Properties While Moving on a Real Track Model

“…These works are conducted by many researchers to investigate rail vehicle dynamics as a key factor affecting their operational safety. It relates to the increasing running speed of railway vehicles and with the intent to ensure reliable and safe operation on railway lines as much as possible [29][30][31][32].…”