Effect of Track Structure Parameters on Rolling Contact Stresses of Wheel-rail

Abstract

The effects of rail base slope, rail gauge and curve radius on the rolling contact stresses and wear index of JM3 wheelset and track in static rolling contact are analyzed by using the rolling contact theory of three-dimensional elastic bodies with non-Hertz form, numerical program of CONTACT and Bossinesq-Cerruti force/displacement formula and the Gaussian numerical integration. The numerical results indicate that the stresses, wear index and normal pressure will achieve the minimal value when the rail base slope is 1/20. The maximal shear stress and equivalent stress can decrease by 40.15% and 39.37% respectively when the rail base slope changes from 1/40 to 1/20. It is suggested that the profile of worn tread is optimized due to bigger contact stresses when the rail base slope is 1/40. The appropriate augment of rail gauge can decrease the maximal shear stress, equivalent stress and normal pressure on the contact patch of wheel-rail. The maximal stress of contact patch under the curve track condition will increase evidently comparing to the tangent track. Moreover, the curve radius will change the distributing of stick-slip area and decreasing curve radius will increase total slip of the contact patch and wear index of wheel-rail.