Rail-wheel Interaction and Its Influence on Rail and Wheels Wear

Abstract

Abstract Railway superstructure and the rolling stock form a complex mechanical system. Due to the interaction between the rolling stock and the rail, wears occur, both at the wheel profile, as on the rail. This wears generate interaction forces that accelerates the railway track deterioration. This phenomenon leads to expensive maintenance works both on rails as on rolling stock wheels. The purpose of the paper is to investigate the relationship between rail and rolling stock wheels wear, both of them being connected in the railway maintenance plan, rail safety and noise propagation. Wheel wear can be dangerous especially in low temperature season when, connected with the rail wear; it can produce rail cracks with dangerous effects on the traffic safety. It is essential to identify a crack from the initiation phase and the point where it becomes a dangerous point under traffic loads.