Wheel-rail wear simulation

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Wheel-rail wear simulation

Telliskivi, T. / Olofsson, U.

Simulating the form change of the wheel-rail contact can help in determining more efficient maintenance schedules for track and rolling stock. Such simulation can also help identify the risk of severe or catastrophic wear resulting from increased train speeds and axle loads. The here presented model is an updated version, with more general geometry treatment, of a simulation model previously used to simulate the form change in a two-roller contact. The normal contact problem is analysed using the modified Winkler method and calibrated using the results from FEM modelling of the wheel-rail contact with an elastic-plastic material model. A piecewise approach and stick-slip analysis of the rolling-sliding contact solves the tangential problem. Archard's wear law is used in the wear simulation. The form change for a typical two-point contact in a low radius curve was analysed and discussed. The results shows that the wear expressed, as mass loss per distance slid, can be up to 2.5 times higher when using an elastic-plastic material model compared with a linear-elastic material model. To be able to fully validate the proposed model for form change simulation with full-scale testing, the authors emphasize that the model should be implemented in train dynamic simulation software. With such software the necessary input data on forces and wheel attitude at the contact locations could be supplied.