Wheel–rail impact loads and axle bending stress simulated for generic distributions and shapes of discrete wheel tread damage

Wheel–rail impact loads generated by discrete wheel tread irregularities may result in high dynamic bending stresses the wheelset axle, leading to a decrease component life and an elevated risk for fatigue failure. In this paper, versatile cost-efficient method simulate vertical interaction between railway track, accounting generic distributions shapes of damage, is presented. The (comprising two wheels, axle any attached equipment braking power transmission) track with discretely supported rails are described three-dimensional finite element (FE) models. coupling wheel?rail contacts (one on each wheel) via sleepers considered. simulation vehicle–track carried out time domain using convolution integral approach, while non-linear wheel–rail normal contact solved Kalker's variational method. Wheelset designs that non-symmetric respect centre support conditions as well damage wheels (or rails) can be studied. Time-variant computed locations which prone fatigue. Based Green's functions stress established FE model, achieved post-processing step. An extensive parametric study has been performed where have different sizes train speeds.