Study on the effects of wheel-rail friction self-excited vibration and feedback vibration of corrugated irregularity on rail corrugation

Abstract

Abstract Both the self-excited vibration of the wheel-rail system and the feedback vibration of track irregularity have certain effects on the rail corrugation. The present paper focuses on the effects of wheel-rail friction self-excited vibration and feedback vibration of corrugated irregularity on rail corrugation. Taking the typical rail corrugation on the low rail of the small-radius curve of the metro as the research object, the relevant wheel-rail finite element model and the worn rail surface of corrugated irregularity are established. Then, considering the influences of the wheel-rail friction self-excited oscillation and feedback vibration of corrugated irregularity, the stability and dynamic response of wheel-rail system on smooth and worn rail surfaces are studied to explore the dynamic origin of rail corrugation. Furthermore, the effects of the friction coefficient, corrugation depth and corrugation wavelength on the development of rail corrugation are studied, respectively. The results show that the wheel-rail friction-induced vibration may cause the rail corrugation and the feedback vibration of corrugated irregularity may aggravate the development of the subsequent rail corrugation. Then, the increase of the wheel-rail friction coefficient will increase the possibility of rai corrugation whether the rail surface is smooth or wear. When the wheel-rail friction coefficient is less than 0.2, no unstable vibration occurs. Moreover, the development of wear depth and the expansion rate to the surrounding rail of subsequent rail corrugation will be further intensified with the corrugation depth increases. Furthermore, when a corrugation wavelength is less than 60 mm, the feedback vibration of rail corrugation will aggravate the development of rail corrugation. Otherwise, the development rate of rail corrugation will gradually slow down with the corrugation wavelength increases continuously.