Finite element modeling of railway wheel gauge change during braking: Effect of lateral shift of brake block

Abstract

Finite element analysis is used to investigate the wheel gauge change in a new railway wheel under regular braking conditions and shifted brake block away from the flange. The FEM model used here accounts for residual stress development during manufacturing, thermal heat flux partitioning during braking, and heat dissipation to rail and ambient. The wheel gauge decreases while braking and increases once the wheel cools down in normal braking conditions. When the brake blocks are moved away from the wheel flange, a similar pattern emerges; however, the wheel gauge change is greater than in the previous case. The lateral displacement of brake blocks away from the flange side of the railway wheel during braking may result in a larger wheel gauge drop during braking and a larger wheel gauge increase after cooling.