Research Progress of High-Speed Wheel–Rail Relationship

Abstract

The research on wheel–rail relationship includes the basic theoretical models and corresponding numerical methods of wheel–rail in rolling contact, geometric parameter matching and material matching of them, friction and wear, wheel–rail rolling contact fatigue, wheel–rail adhesion and noise. They are also key theoretical and technical problems of the high-speed train/track coupling system. The basic theoretical models of wheel–rail in rolling contact and the corresponding numerical methods are the basis and one of the basic means for solving other wheel–rail relationship problems. The other is the experimental means. Moreover, the modeling and analysis of coupling behavior of the train and track can only be realized by means of the wheel–rail rolling contact mechanics model and its corresponding numerical method. This paper mainly discusses some research work and achievements on high-speed wheel–rail relationship problems since China opened a high-speed railway system on a large scale. The discussions in this paper include the classic wheel–rail rolling contact theoretical models (analytical forms) and the modern wheel–rail rolling contact theories (numerical methods), their advantages and disadvantages, their application and future development direction of them. The reviewed research progress on the other wheel–rail relationships mainly expounds the thorny problems of the wheel–rail relationship encountered in the operation of China’s high-speed railway, how to adopt new theoretical analysis methods, test means and take effective measures to solve these problems. It also includes research results of similar important reference values performed by international peer experts in related fields. Challenging and unsolved problems in high-speed wheel–rail relationship research are also reviewed in the full text.