Mechanical Wear Contact between the Wheel and Rail on a Turnout with Variable Stiffness

Jerzy Kisilowski and Rafał Kowalik
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Jerzy Kisilowski: Faculty of Transport, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Technology and Humanities, 26-600 Radom, Poland
Rafał Kowalik: Department of Avionics and Control Systems, Faculty of Aviation Division, Military University of Aviation, 08-521 Deblin, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-39

Abstract: The operation and maintenance of railroad turnouts for rail vehicle traffic moving at speeds from 200 km/h to 350 km/h significantly differ from the processes of track operation without turnouts, curves, and crossings. Intensive wear of the railroad turnout components (switch blade, retaining rods, rails, and cross-brace) occurs. The movement of a rail vehicle on a switch causes high-dynamic impact, including vertical, normal, and lateral forces. This causes intensive rail and wheel wear. This paper presents the wear of rails and of the needle in a railroad turnout on a straight track. Geometrical irregularities of the track and the generation of vertical and normal forces occurring at the point of contact of the wheel with turnout elements are additionally considered in this study. To analyse the causes of rail wear in turnouts, selected technical–operational parameters were assumed, such as the type of rail vehicle, the type of turnout, and the maximum allowable axle load. The wear process of turnout elements (along its length) and wheel wear is presented. An important element, considering the occurrence of large vertical and normal forces affecting wear and tear, was the adoption of variable track stiffness along the switch. This stiffness is assumed according to the results of measurements on the real track. The wear processes were determined by using the work of Kalker and Chudzikiewicz as a basis. This paper presents results from simulation studies of wear and wear coefficients for different speeds. Wear results were compared with nominal rail and wheel shapes. Finally, conclusions from the tests are formulated.

Keywords: wear; turnout; rail; stiffness; high-speed (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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