On the problem of the dynamical reactions of a rolling wheelset to real track irregularities

Abstract We investigate numerically the dynamical reactions of a moving wheelset model to real measured track irregularities. The background is examine whether dynamics are suitable as input inverse problem: determine true geometry from reactions. It known that method works well for vertical position rails but computed lateral often flawed. find motion may differ geometry. cases investigated closely reasons remain unknown. While reflect larger (> 4–6 mm) aperiodic disturbances and single large quite well, this does not seem be case general smaller or periodic irregularities sections behind disturbances. resulting in sufficiently accurate used basis description