Wheelset-track resonance as a possible source of corrugation wear

Abstract

This paper reports on the on-going investigation of the interaction of the torsional dynamics of the wheelset and the longitudinal dynamics of the track, coupled through the contact patch, as a possible source of rail corrugation wear. Previously developed computer models have been up-dated to include the complete dynamic creepage characterization of the contact patch. Possible sources of wheel-rail excitation, such as wheel-to-wheel differential running radii, wheel tread defects, wheel-to-wheel differential tangential force and track lubrication, which could induce wheelset-torsional-track-longitudinal vibrational resonance and thus constitute potential sources of corrugation initiation, have been investigated analytically. Simulation examples demonstrate that the identified sources may generate dynamic resonance response(s) of the wheelset-torsional and/or tracklongitudinal vibrational modes. The amplitude, frequency, and duration of such resonance, in addition to being functions of the system inertia, stiffness parameters and the wheel-rail coupling through the contact patch creep force, are shown to be highly sensitive to the magnitude and time rate of change of the excitation input.