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Thermo-mechanical analysis of train wheel-rail contact using a novel finite-element model

Liuqing Yang (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China)
Ming Hu (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China)
Deming Zhao (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China)
Jing Yang (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China)
Xun Zhou (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China)

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology

ISSN: 0036-8792

Article publication date: 14 February 2020

Issue publication date: 16 June 2020

168

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel method for analyzing wheel-rail (W-R) contact using thermo-mechanical measurements and study the effects of heating on the characteristics of W-R contact under different creepages.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed an implicit-explicit finite element (FE) model which could solve both partial slip and full sliding problems by setting different angular velocities on the wheels. Based on the model, four material types under six different creepages were simulated.

Findings

The results showed that frictional heating significantly affected the residual stress distribution under large creepage conditions. As creepage increased, the temperature of the wheel tread and rail head rose and the peak value was located at the trailing edge of the contact patch.

Originality/value

The proposed FE model could reduce computational time and thus cost to about one-third of the amount commonly found in previous literature. Compared to other studies, these results are in good agreement and offer a reasonable alternative method for analyzing W-R contact under various conditions.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-07-2019-0298

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The present research is supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (U1334204), Natural Science Foundation Youth Science Fund of China(51805488) and Natural Science Foundation of China(51375458).

Citation

Yang, L., Hu, M., Zhao, D., Yang, J. and Zhou, X. (2020), "Thermo-mechanical analysis of train wheel-rail contact using a novel finite-element model", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 72 No. 5, pp. 687-693. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-07-2019-0298

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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