Rail RCF and the Effects of Different Wheel Profiles

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Mehrgou ◽  
Asghar Nasr
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Simulation ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Tangential Force ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Dynamic Interactions ◽  
Railway Passenger ◽  
Vehicle Dynamic Simulation

Wheel lateral profile has considerable effects on the wheel/rail dynamic interactions such as the shape and size of the contact area, instantaneous rolling radius and contact forces. Theses themselves have indirectly important roles on the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) which is known to be the main reason for large portion of rail maintenance costs. In this study the wheel/rail dynamic interaction of an Iranian railway passenger wagon under three different wheel profiles are investigated using ADAMS\Rail commercial simulation software. The dynamic simulation results regarding contact load and contact features of the wheel and rail are used for fatigue analysis to calculate RCF damage to the rail using reliable damage criteria reported in the literature. The two major parameters having serious roles on the RCF are believed to be the contact stress and the tangential force at the contact patch. These parameters are obtained from vehicle dynamic simulation studies. This paper describes and compares the effects of three different wheel profiles known as S1002, P8 and IR1002 on the rail RCF in both the curved and tangent sections of a track. The primary results clearly identify the effects of wheel profile on the RCF.

Influence of Track Properties on Railway Vehicles Wheel Rolling Contact Fatigue

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Mehrgou ◽  
Asghar Nasr
Keyword(s):  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Tangential Force ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Vehicle Dynamic ◽  
Wheel Load ◽  
Wheel Rolling ◽  
Railway Passenger ◽  
Vehicle Dynamic Simulation

Track properties such as rail inclination, cant and gage width have significant effects on the shape and size of the contact area, actual rolling radius and also on the contact forces. These effects have an important role on rolling contact fatigue (RCF) which is known to be the main reason for large portion of wheel set failures and expenses. In this study the wheel/rail dynamic interaction of an Iranian railway passenger wagon under different track features are investigated through simulations using ADAMS\Rail commercial software. The calculated results regarding contact load data and contact properties of the wheel and rail are used for fatigue analysis to calculate RCF damage to the wheels using damage criteria based on previous studies. Two major parameters believed to have serious roles on RCF are the contact stress and the tangential force in the contact patch. These parameters are obtained from vehicle dynamic simulation studies. This paper describes and compares effects of different track geometries in curved and tangent tracks on RCF of three different wheel profiles S1002, P8 and IR1002. It is to identify which combinations of wheel load, wheel and rail profiles and vehicle dynamic characteristics cause RCF more severely.

The Effects of Wheelset Position and Operating Environment on Rolling Contact Fatigue

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Cummings ◽  
Paul Krupowicz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Impact Load ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Operating Environment ◽  
Lead Position ◽  
Defect Prevention

The Wheel Defect Prevention Research Consortium (WDPRC) conducted analyses of wheel impact load detector (WILD) data to explore how wheelset position and operating environment affect rolling contact fatigue (RCF). The typical three-piece freight car truck used in North America produces higher tangential wheel/rail contact forces on the wheelset in the lead position than on the wheelset in the trail position of a truck as a car negotiates a curve. An analysis of WILD data shows that these higher forces are contributing to more shelling damage on wheelsets that are consistently in the lead position of a truck. Datasets in which the cars are frequently oriented with the A-end leading show the largest percentage of elevated WILD readings in the lead position of the lead truck (axle 4) followed by the lead position of the trail truck (axle 2). Likewise, datasets in which the cars are frequently oriented with the B-end leading show the largest percentage of elevated WILD readings in the lead position of the lead truck (axle 1) followed by the lead position of the trail truck (axle 3). Additionally, datasets in which there is an equal mix of car orientations show a much more evenly distributed location of elevated WILD readings. Another analysis of WILD data from five trainsets of nearly identical cars shows that any differences in wheel tread damage due to component differences are insignificant in comparison to the differences in wheel tread damage associated with environmental factors. While this analysis does not address component specification differences that could potentially have a large influence on shelling (such as M-976 trucks in comparison to standard trucks), it does show that environmental factors can play a large role in wheel tread damage. Car routing and loading characteristics were investigated as possible wheel damage factors. It appears that cars running on routes through terrain with longer, steeper grades may be prone to increased wheel shelling, probably due to thermal mechanical shelling (TMS). Side-to-side imbalanced loading appears to play a minor role in wheel shelling for two of the five trainsets.

Thermal Effects on Wheel Performance Based on Twin Disc Testing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dingqing Li ◽  
Monique Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Effects ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Test Machine ◽  
Testing Program ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Surface Performance

Abstract This paper presents the results and findings from a testing program conducted to investigate how temperature at the wheel-rail interface may affect wheel surface performance; i.e., development of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and wear. Under this testing program, a twin disc test machine was used to test two different types of wheel specimens (cast and forged) under a range of temperatures (ambient to 800° F) and slip ratios from 0 to 0.75 percent. This testing program included a total of 32 tests, covering two wheel materials, four different temperatures, four slip ratios, and various traction coefficients as a ratio of longitudinal and vertical wheel/rail contact forces.

Approaches to modeling occurrence of rolling contact fatigue damages in rails

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Zakharov ◽  
E. V. Torskaya
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Tangential Force ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Joint Zone ◽  
The Road ◽  
Heavy Haul ◽  
Vehicle Movement ◽  
Relative Slippage

Rolling contact-fatigue damages of rails along with their wear are the most common types of rail defects. In recent years, there have been significant changes in the distribution of rolling contact fatigue damages of rails especially on railways operating under heavy haul conditions.This paper is devoted to the overview of approaches to modeling of the occurrence of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damages on working surfaces of rails. Four types of such approaches to modeling are considered. The first is based on the methods of contact mechanics. To realize it, the vehicle movement on the characteristic sections of the track is modeled, the forces acting in contact are determined, the contact problem is solved, and the values of the linear criterion of contact fatigue damage are determined. The required characteristics of rolling contact fatigue of the rail material are established on the basis of laboratory tests. The second approach uses the diagram of the adaptability of rail material to cyclic loads, proposed by K. Johnson, established on the basis of laboratory tests. The third approach uses criteria that have the physical meaning of the energy released at the contact as an index of the product of the tangential force in contact and relative slippage. In the fourth approach predicting the accumulation of plastic deformation under conditions of cyclic loading is performed on the basis of a series of standard tests of rail steels, including in the welded joint zone, and finite element modeling. In addition, there is also a probabilistic model, based on the assumption that it is possible to transfer the results of the RCF damage of rails on the experimental section of the road to any other site.As the conclusion the authors formulated directions for further studies on the formation and development of surface rolling contact fatigue defects in rails.

scholarly journals Optimizing wheel profiles and suspensions for railway vehicles operating on specific lines to reduce wheel wear: a case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunguang Ye ◽  
Yu Sun ◽  
Shiping Dongfang ◽  
Dachuan Shi ◽  
Markus Hecht
Keyword(s):  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Optimal Choice ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Wheel Wear ◽  
Material Loss ◽  
Railway Vehicles ◽  
Wheel Profile ◽  
Designing Method

AbstractThe selection of a wheel profile is a topic of great interest as it can affect running performances and wheel wear, which needs to be determined based on the actual operational line. Most existing studies, however, aim to improve running performances or reduce contact forces/wear/rolling contact fatigue (RCF) on curves with ideal radii, with little attention to the track layout parameters, including curves, superelevation, gauge, and cant, etc. In contrast, with the expansion of urbanization, as well as some unique geographic or economic reasons, more and more railway vehicles shuttle on fixed lines. For these vehicles, the traditional wheel profile designing method may not be the optimal choice. In this sense, this paper presents a novel wheel profile designing method, which combines FaSrtip, wheel material loss function developed by University of Sheffield (USFD function), and Kriging surrogate model (KSM), to reduce wheel wear for these vehicles that primarily operate on fixed lines, for which an Sgnss wagon running on the German Blankenburg–Rübeland railway line is introduced as a case. Besides, regarding the influence of vehicle suspension characteristics on wheel wear, most of the studies have studied the lateral stiffness, longitudinal stiffness, and yaw damper characteristics of suspension systems, since these parameters have an obvious influence on wheel wear. However, there is currently little research on the relationship between the vertical suspension characteristics and wheel wear. Therefore, it is also investigated in this paper, and a suggestion for the arrangement of the vertical primary spring stiffness of the Y25 bogie is given.

Study of a Brittle Transparent Disk Under Dry RCF Conditions

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Francisco ◽  
Houssein Abbouchi ◽  
Bernard Villechaise
Keyword(s):  
Normal Load ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Tangential Force ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Tangential Load ◽  
Primary Network ◽  
Disk Material ◽  
Number Of Cycles ◽  
The One

Despite the numerous experimental works on rolling contact fatigue, dealing with two-disk contacts, some phenomena still remain badly understood. Most of the test benches, used for that purpose, impose the rotational speeds to the disks: global slipping occurs and the tangential force is measured. Even if this configuration is found in some mechanical contacts, it does not reflect situations, where only microslipping occurs with high tangential loads. For these reasons, an original bench has been designed: a specimen disk rotates a braked stainless steel disk under a normal load N. The tangential load T, due to the braked disk, is set below the global slipping value; the specimen disks are transparent for the cracks observation and brittle to avoid any plasticity complication. A typical run consists in carrying out a succession of steps of increasing the number of cycles. Each step ends with several measurements on the cracks: their counting and their width and depth measurements. The results are divided in two categories: general observations and quantitative results. The most evident observation concerns the crack shape since it propagates along an ellipse on the contact path. Furthermore, the direction of propagation inside the disk is perpendicular to the surface. Lastly, a regular primary network of well-defined cracks is observed with cracks less marked. Concerning the effects of varying loads, the higher the T, the faster the cracks initiate and propagate because of a higher tensile stress state. However, these effects can be partly overridden by N beneath the contact path. As the disk material is brittle, the crack behavior is quite similar to the one observed on metallic specimens. Even if the results are obtained in an epoxy resin, a reasonable transposition is possible. The disk transparency makes it possible to quantify the cracks growth and to propose original 3D photographs of the cracks.

scholarly journals Modelling of Frictional Conditions in the Wheel–Rail Interface Due to Application of Top-of-Rail Products

Lubricants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Gerald Trummer ◽  
Zing Siang Lee ◽  
Roger Lewis ◽  
Klaus Six
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Coefficient Of Friction ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Application Site ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Coefficient Of Friction

The coefficient of friction between a wheel tread and the top of the rail should be maintained at intermediate levels to limit frictional tangential contact forces. This can be achieved by applying top-of-rail products. Reducing the coefficient of friction to intermediate levels reduces energy consumption and fuel costs, as well as damage to the wheel and rail surfaces, such as, e.g., wear, rolling contact fatigue, and corrugation. This work describes a simulation model that predicts the evolution of the coefficient of friction as a function of the number of wheel passes and the distance from the application site for wayside application of top-of-rail products. The model considers the interplay of three mechanisms, namely the pick-up of product by the wheel at the application site, the repeated transfer of the product between the wheel and rail surfaces, and the product consumption. The model has been parameterized with data from small-scale twin disc rig experiments and full-scale wheel–rail rig experiments. Systematic investigations of the model behaviour for a railway operating scenario show that all three mechanisms may limit the achievable carry-on distance of the product. The developed simulation model assists in understanding the interplay of the mechanisms that govern the evolution of the coefficient of friction in the field. It may aid in finding optimal product application strategies with respect to application position, application amount, and application pattern depending on specific railway operating conditions.

scholarly journals Investigation on Wheel-Rail Contact and Damage Behavior in a Flange Bearing Frog with Explicit Finite Element Method

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Yuan Gao ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Yibin Liu ◽  
Jingmang Xu ◽  
Zhiguo Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Numerical Procedure ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Wheel Load ◽  
Explicit Finite Element ◽  
Contact Behavior

Flange bearing frogs are designed to provide continuous rolling surfaces for trains traveling on the through line, but the interaction between wheel and rail in a diverging line is more complex than that for a common crossing, especially including flange bearing mode and multipoint contact during the transition. The wheel load will be transited from tread to flange and back to tread, which will intensify the wheel-rail interaction. In this paper, a numerical procedure is presented for the analysis of wheel-rail rolling contact behavior and damage prediction for the flange bearing frog. The three-dimensional explicit finite element (FE) model of a wheel passing the flange bearing frog is established to obtain the dynamic wheel-rail interaction in both the facing and the trailing move. The evolution of contact forces, the distribution of adhesion-slip regions, and shear surface stress and microslip at the contact patch are revealed. Then, the competition relationship between RCF (rolling contact fatigue) and wear of a flange bearing frog is analyzed. The results of numerical simulations can contribute to an understanding of the mechanism of the transient rolling contact behavior and provide guidance in design optimization for flange bearing frogs.

Influence of Short-Pitch Wheel/Rail Corrugation on Rolling Contact Fatigue of Railway Wheels

2005 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
J C O Nielsen ◽  
A Ekberg ◽  
R Lundén
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Rolling Contact Fatigue ◽  
Contact Fatigue ◽  
Numerical Procedure ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Rail Corrugation ◽  
Low Pass ◽  
Railway Wheels

A numerical procedure to integrate simulation of high-frequency dynamic train-track interaction and prediction of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) impact is presented. Features of the included models and possibilities of applications are outlined. The influence of short-pitch rail corrugation and wheel out-of-roundness (OOR) on RCF of a high-speed passenger train is investigated. It is shown how the corrugation and the OOR will have a profound effect in that levels of wheel and rail irregularities that have been measured in the field may be sufficient to generate subsurface-initiated RCF. In particular, the high-frequency content of the contact forces is of importance. Errors induced by neglecting such high-frequency components in measurements and/or simulations are investigated by comparing RCF indices based on contact forces that have been low-pass filtered with various cut-off frequencies. To avoid cracking due to RCF, a maximum roughness level in the wavelength interval up to 10 cm is sought. To limit the effects of corrugation, grinding practices have been altered leading to a significant decrease in RCF.

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