Abstract
A finite element vibration model of a multiple wheel–rail system which consists of four wheels, one rail, and a series of sleepers is established to address the problem of rail corrugation in high-speed tracks. In the model, the creep forces between the wheels and rail are considered to be saturated and equal to the normal contact forces times the friction coefficient. The oscillation of the rail is coupled with that of wheels in the action of the saturated creep forces. When the coupling is strong, self-excited oscillation of the wheel–rail system occurs. The self-excited vibration propensity of the model is analyzed using the complex eigenvalue method. Results show that there are strong propensities of unstable self-excited vibrations whose frequencies are less than 1,200 Hz under some conditions. Preventing wheels from slipping on rails is an effective method for suppressing rail corrugation in high-speed tracks.
Highlights
IntroductionRail corrugation is an undulatory wear which occasionally occurs on the rail rolling surface
The total mileage of Chinese high-speed railway has exceeded 16,000 km since the Beijing–Tianjin high-speed intercity railway line with an overall length of 120 km wasRail corrugation is an undulatory wear which occasionally occurs on the rail rolling surface
Preventing wheels from slipping on rails is an effective method for suppressing rail corrugation in high-speed tracks
Summary
Rail corrugation is an undulatory wear which occasionally occurs on the rail rolling surface. The research history of rail corrugation can be traced back to 1900s. Many researchers have made gigantic contributions to the understanding of the generation mechanism of rail corrugation. It is well known that the generation mechanism of rail corrugation consists of both the material damage and wavelength fixing mechanisms [1]. Several sagacious concepts have been proposed in the literature, which include the wear law of the frictional power causing rail working surface wear [2], the feedback mechanism for corrugation development [3], the contact filter [4], the pinned–pinned resonance [5], and so on. Hempelmann et al [2] studied rail corrugation, holding an Investigation into rail corrugation in high-speed railway tracks from the viewpoint
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