An improved 2D fem model for straight track corrugation using the mass redistribution method

Abstract

In railway networks, rail corrugation remains a major problem which increases due to heavy traffic under urban conditions: various frictions, train dynamics, etc. But it is difficult to identify the real influence of each factor on both the onset and evolution of such defects on the strength of experiments alone. Thus it is very important to use numerical models to analyze corrugation defects. In this paper, we present an improvement of the finite element model to reproduce more realistically both the onset and evolution of straight track corrugation under transient conditions with the passage of multiple wheels. Furthermore, the application of finite element modeling to the rail-wheel contact problem is optimized by taking the mass redistribution method into account.