Wheel reprofiling interval optimization based on dynamic behavior evolution for high speed trains

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There has been a ballooning of demand on the Chinese railway system which has brought about a need to maximize the availability of vehicles. This has, in turn, led to a need to optimize reprofiling intervals for wheels. Ideally, these intervals should be based on operational benefits and effects of worn profiles on the running behavior of vehicles. Chinese high speed railway system started to develop since 2008. Less operating and maintenance experience have been accumulated. Long-term tracking tests that continually monitoring the evolution of vehicle dynamic behavior with respect to wheel wear process were taken. The object was to optimize wheel reprofiling and vehicle maintenance intervals. This article introduces the tests results of CRH380B series high speed trains running on the Beijing-Shanghai, Ha’erbin-Dalian, and Wuhan-Guangzhou lines. The long-term tracking tests concentrate on the natural wear process of wheels and other accidental damages such as flats, indentations are out of tests scope.The comfort of the passenger is affected by their exposure to vibration and noise in the car body. Lateral stability of the bogies is a key factor of running safety. Correlation evolution of vehicle dynamic behavior and profile worn shapes is a foundation to determine wheel reprofiling intervals. Accelerometers were mounted on the bogie and car body. Vibration data was recorded daily using on-board data acquisition system. Wheel profiles were also measured periodically to get wear evolution. It is found that vibration levels increased at late reprofiling intervals sharply due to high conicity as wear. Lateral stability of the bogie and out of roundness of the wheels was also deteriorated accompanied with wear process. Through quantified evolution relationship between wheel profiles and vibrations, an optimized reprofiling interval was determined to avoid stability and noise issues.