This paper conducts a detailed investigation into the formation mechanism of wheel polygonalization in high-speed trains and its influence factors through numerical simulation. A finite element model including two rails, one wheelset, and three disc brake units is set up to study the formation mechanism of wheel polygonalization in high-speed trains based on the point of view of frictional self-excited vibration. Using the finite element complex analysis, the dynamic stability of the wheelset–track–disc brake system is studied. In addition, the influence factors on the wheel polygonalization are investigated. Results show that when the longitudinal creep force is unsaturated, the 21-order polygonal wear of wheels occurs easily due to the self-excited vibration of the disc brake unit. When the longitudinal creep force is saturated, the 12-order polygonal wear of wheels probably occurs due to the self-excited vibration of the disc brake unit. The bigger the friction coefficient between the brake disc and pad, the greater the occurrence propensity of the polygonal wear of wheels. Vertical fastener damping that is too large or too small is disadvantageous for suppressing wheel corrugation. However, increasing the lateral fastener damping is beneficial for reducing the polygonal wear of wheels. When the vertical fastener stiffness is 25 MN/m, 7-order, 9-order, and 14-order wheel polygonalization can easily occur. A higher lateral fastener stiffness is beneficial for the suppression of wheel polygonalization.
