Development and validation of a wear prediction model for railway applications including track flexibility

The simultaneous prediction of wheel surface wear is one the most challenging tasks in railway field, which requires knowledge vehicle–track dynamics, rolling contact mechanics, and other tribological phenomena. In this paper, a new model for predicting profile presented to study detail characteristics railway. able consider effect track flexibility on evolution. proposed modelling approach includes coupled vehicle dynamical simulation, local wheel–rail interaction, an energetic evaluation. whole has been validated by comparison with experimental data coming from Chinese high-speed lines. results show that assures high computational efficiency as well reaches good accuracy. allows investigation role played different parameters related rail influence fastener railpad stiffness evolution presented, using model. • A applied speed enables consideration flexibility, through dynamics simulation. Validation numerical obtained measured results. presented.