Analysis of rail corrugation characteristics in the vehicle braking section of metro

Abstract

To study the evolution characteristics of corrugation in the vehicle braking section of the metro, a three-dimensional wheel–rail transient contact finite element model is established, and the contact stick–slip characteristics and rail wear distribution features are analyzed. The results show that, under the braking condition, the interface has stick–slip motion, indicating that the system is in a state of instability; the longitudinal relative slip is unevenly distributed; the peak position of the initial corrugation has a large longitudinal relative slip; and the transverse relative slip in the initial corrugation area is significantly larger than that in other areas, indicating that the initial corrugation will continue to develop and have a remarkable transverse wear trend. Under the nonbraking condition, there is no stick–slip motion at the interface, and the longitudinal and transverse relative slip values are less than the corresponding results under the braking condition. The cause of corrugation in the vehicle braking section is the wheel–rail unstable stick–slip motion triggered by the vehicle braking, and the fixed operating mode of the train provides the wavelength-fixing condition for the development of the initial corrugation, which leads to its continuous deterioration.