Railway wheel tread damage and axle bending stress – Instrumented wheelset measurements and numerical simulations

A combination of instrumented wheelset measurements and numerical simulations axle bending stresses is used to investigate the consequences evolving rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage on a passenger train wheelset. In field test campaign, have been monitored using with four strain gauges mounted axle, while evolution wheel tread (out-of-roundness) has measured regular occasions. The signals are post-processed in real time stress variations computed. Based convolution integral approach, out-of-roundness as input vertical dynamic wheelset–track interaction stresses. Simulated compared for cases involving combinations low or high levels rail roughness RCF damage. study enhances understanding how track quality influence amplitudes.