A Study on the Development of the Korean Gauge-Adjustable Wheelset System for Freight Train

Abstract

To reduce the cost and the time of transport in Eurasian railroad networks such as TKR(Trans-Korea Railway), TCR(Trans-China Railway) and TSR(Trans-Siberia Railway) owing to the problem of different track gauges (narrow/standard/broad gauge), it is important to develop the gauge-adjustable wheelset (GAW) system to adapt easily to these gauges. The GAW system in the transcontinental railway represents a more effective way in comparison with other techniques for overcoming difference in track gauges. Freight trains having the GAW system will be passing various curved tracks in railroad networks. In this study, it was performed to evaluate contact stress and fatigue life of locking parts during freight trains' service in the curved track, respectively. Moreover, the safety of Korean GAW system at running track was verified by rig tests according to UIC 510-4 code.