Influence of railway wheel tread damage on wheel–rail impact loads and the durability of wheelsets

Abstract Dynamic wheel–rail contact forces induced by a severe form of wheel tread damage have been measured impact load detector during full-scale field tests at different vehicle speeds. Based on laser scanning, the three-dimensional geometry is employed in simulations dynamic vehicle–track interaction to calibrate and verify simulation model. The relation between magnitude various operational parameters, such as speed, lateral position contact, track stiffness within sleeper bay, investigated. calibrated model later featuring other forms damage; their effects subsequent fatigue bearings, webs subsurface initiated rolling are assessed. results quantify defects valuable shift towards condition-based maintenance running gear, for general assessment severity types railway damage.