Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) is the predominant type of damage observed in wheel tread, whose detrimental impact on the metro operation efficiency is increasingly significant. To study the fatigue damage behavior of rolling wheels, a torsional vibration model of resilient wheel system and a numerical solution method for evaluating the wheel RCF damage are established in this research. The magnitude and distribution trend of fatigue damage of rigid and resilient wheel treads under distinct operation conditions are evaluated. The findings indicate that the cumulative fatigue damage and damage distribution of wheels decrease with the increase of track radius. Resilient wheels exhibit enhanced fatigue resistance and improved robustness in wheel–rail contact under the track condition of small radius. The fatigue damage performance and longitudinal creep force of rigid wheels begin to exceed that of resilient wheels with the gradual flattening of track curve when the radius is greater than 800 m.
ZhaoXJGuoJLiuQY, et al.Effect of spherical dents on microstructure evolution and rolling contact fatigue of wheel/rail materials. Tribol Int2018; 127: 520–532.
2.
WangLShengXLuoJ. A peridynamic damage-cumulative model for rolling contact fatigue. Theor Appl Fract Mech2022; 121: 103489.
3.
ZefengWGongquanTXinZ, et al.Wear and RCF problems of metro wheel/rail systems: phenomena, causes and countermeasures in China. Wear2023; 534-535: 205118.
4.
StreyNFRezendeABMirandaRS, et al.Comparison of rolling contact fatigue damage between railway wheels and twin-disc test specimens. Tribol Int2021; 160: 107037.
5.
LuoKLiuXYangY, et al.Modeling the competitive relationship between wear and rolling contact fatigue of railway wheel steel. Wear2025; 560-561: 205615.
6.
EkbergAKaboEAnderssonH. An engineering model for prediction of rolling contact fatigue of railway wheels. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct2002; 25: 899–909.
7.
VicenteFSGuillamónMP. Use of the fatigue index to study rolling contact wear. Wear2019; 436-437: 203036.
8.
Silva eSJAntoniolliFAEndlichCS, et al.Influence of wheel tread wear on Rolling Contact Fatigue and on the dynamics of railway vehicles. Wear2023; 523: 204735.
9.
MorrisDSadeghiFChenY, et al.Predicting material performance in rolling contact fatigue via torsional fatigue. Tribol Trans2019; 62: 614–625.
10.
ŞengülÖMenderesK. Analysis of radial tire design and dynamic analysis for sustainable production. Int Marmara Sci Soc Sci Congr2019; 1: 1135–1142.
11.
MenderesKHamitS. Vibration damping capacity of deep cryogenic treated AISI 4140 steel shaft supported by rolling element bearings. Mater Test2021; 63: 742–747.
12.
ŞengülÖMenderesK. Comparative analysis of hatch cover stocking gantry crane hooks manufactured from St37 and Weldox700 steels under static loading conditions. Surf Rev Lett2022; 29: 29.
13.
NicolaZCandidaP. Predictive maps for the rolling contact fatigue and wear interaction in railway wheel steels. Wear2022; 510-511: 204513.
14.
JungWonSHyunMooHSeokJinK. Effect of mechanical properties of rail and wheel on wear and rolling contact fatigue. Metals (Basel)2022; 12: 630.
15.
WuYPuQChenZ, et al.Dynamic characteristics and safe operation speed threshold of metro train passing through curved bridge considering resilient wheel. Sci Rep2025; 15: 3818.
16.
XinZShuoqiaoZXiaozhenS. An investigation into the effect of resilient wheel stiffness on the dynamic behaviour of a metro vehicle running along a tangent track. J Vib Control2023; 29: 3298–3311.
17.
TianJHDongXL. Research on polygon suppression of resilient wheels under multiple operating conditions. Proc Inst Mech Eng2023; 237: 371–385.
18.
CantiniSCervelloS. The competitive role of wear and RCF: full scale experimental assessment of artificial and natural defects in railway wheel treads. Wear2016; 366-367: 325–337.
19.
ZhaoXAnBZhaoX, et al.Local rolling contact fatigue and indentations on high-speed railway wheels: observations and numerical simulations. Int J Fatigue2017; 103: 5–16.
20.
ZhaoXWangZWenZ, et al.The initiation of local rolling contact fatigue on railway wheels: an experimental study. Int J Fatigue2020; 132: 105354.
21.
LiuYJiangTZhaoX, et al.On the wheel rolling contact fatigue of high-power AC locomotives running in complicated environments. Wear2019; 436-437: 202956.
22.
LiuYJiangTZhaoX, et al.Effects of axle load transfer on wheel rolling contact fatigue of high-power AC locomotives with oblique traction rods. Int J Fatigue2020; 139: 105748.
23.
HeYZhouQXuF, et al.An investigation into the effect of rubber design parameters of a resilient wheel on wheel-rail noise. Appl Acoust2023; 205: 109259.
24.
ZhouXLiuZZhongS, et al.In-situ assessment of the sound and vibration reduction performance of a new type of resilient wheel installed on a metro train. Veh Syst Dyn2024; 62: 2936–2955.
25.
State Administration for Market Regulation. Code for design of metro: GB50157-2013. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2013.
26.
VoKDTieuAKZhuHT, et al.A tool to estimate the wheel/rail contact and temperature rising under dry, wet and oily conditions135. Rome, Italy: WIT Press, 2014, pp.191–201.
27.
State Administration for Market Regulation. Specification for dynamic performance assessment and testing verification of rolling stock: GB/T5599-2019. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2019.
28.
Huang Youjian. Design and calculation method of rubber elastic elements for rail vehicles. Beijing, China: China Railway Publishing House, 2010.
29.
TunnaJSinclairJPerezJ. A review of wheel wear and rolling contact fatigue. Proc Inst Mech Eng Pt F J Rail Rapid Transit2007; 221: 271–289.
30.
BurstowMC. Whole life rail model application and development for RSSB-Continued development of an RCF damage parameter. RSSB Research Report for Task T115, 2004.
31.
TunnaJSinclairJPerezJ. The development of a wheel wear and rolling contact fatigue model. Proc CM20092009; 1: 269–275.
32.
MakinoTKatoTHirakawaK. The effect of slip ratio on the rolling contact fatigue property of railway wheel steel. Int J Fatigue2011; 36: 68–79.
33.
RamalhoAEstevesMMartaP. Friction and wear behaviour of rolling–sliding steel contacts. Wear2013; 302: 1468–1480.
34.
DirksBEnblomR. Prediction model for wheel profile wear and rolling contact fatigue. Wear2010; 271: 210–217.
