Simulation study on the influence of wheel irregularity on the vertical dynamics of wheel–rail interaction for high-speed railway track using bond graph

Abstract

Dynamic interaction between train wheel and high-speed slab is an important issue when evaluating the contact force at the wheel–rail interface under the influence of an irregularity either on the train wheel or on the rail. In this paper, an influence of amplitude of irregularity along with the vehicle speed on the dynamics of wheel–rail interaction for high-speed railway tracks is being analyzed. For this purpose, single-wheel high-speed railway (HSR) track interaction models are developed using the bond graph modeling technique. The HSR track model consists of two layers of beam, i.e., rail and concrete slab. Both the rail and slab track is modeled using the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. The Hertzian contact theory at the wheel–rail interface has been considered for this analysis. The vertical dynamic interaction between a train wheel and a high-speed slab track is compiled in the time domain using a bond graph approach coupled with a technique known as modal superposition. Irregularity present on the wheel is characterized as smooth, moderate, and severe depending upon the variation of irregularity amplitude. An expeditious increase of maximum contact force has been observed between the speed range of 200 and 250 km/h. Beyond the speed of 250 km/h, there is a gradual increment of contact force up to its peak value. When the train speed is beyond 288 km/h, there is a gradual decrease in maximum contact force. This kind of several other useful dynamic responses in terms of wheel acceleration and wheel–rail overlap are also evaluated.