Wear of a crossing under dynamic wheel impact

Abstract

Combined with Archard theory, a finite element model for wear study of the crossing is developed by taking into account dynamic wheel impact as well as elastic-plastic material properties, and the application of the theory is explored using finite element analysis. On this basis, the effects of axle loads or train speeds on von Mises stress and wear depths in different directions are studied. In fact, the wear depth at any position and in any direction can be obtained by coordinate transformation. The wear depth and von Mises stress increase with increasing axle loads, but the degree of increase is varied at different positions. The presented model is validated by literature contrast, such as field test data in the literature and calculation results of validated models. The study thus provides an effective method for predicting the wear life of the crossing and the evolution of the profile shape, and optimizing maintenance engineering.