Field measurement and model prediction of rail corrugation. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, GX; Zhang, S; Wu, BW; Zhao, XN; Wen, ZF; Ouyang, H; Zhu, MH
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Volume 234:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 392
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Rail corrugation -- undulant wear -- rail − wheel interaction -- friction-induced self-excited vibration; Railroads -- Periodicals; Personal rapid transit -- Periodicals; 625.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0954409719877318
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-4097

Abstract

In a field test, three corrugation profiles of rails and their corresponding vibrations were measured, and the wavelengths and frequencies of rail corrugations were obtained. In the model prediction, finite-element models of the self-excited vibrations corresponding to three different wheelset–track systems were established. The corrugation frequencies of these models were predicted, and a comparison between the measured and the predicted corrugation frequencies showed that they are in good agreement. It can be concluded that the self-excited vibration of a wheelset–track system can cause rail corrugation. A benchmark condition for the validation of rail corrugation models is proposed.