Analysis of Wheel-rail Vertical Force Characteristics Due to Flat Wheel Passing through Rail Weld Zone in Metro

doi:10.3901/JME.2025.20.263

Abstract

Abstract: Wheel flats and rail weld irregularities are common sources of excitation on the wheel and rail surface, which will aggravate the wheel-rail interaction. The previous research on analyzing the dynamic response of wheel and rail under the combined effect of two kinds of excitations is not perfect. Based on ANSYS and SIMPACK, a rigid-flexible coupled dynamic model of metro vehicle-track is established, which takes into account the flexibility of wheelsets and rails. The phase when the flat wheel passes through the weld zone of the rail was simulated by the relative position between the center of the wheel flat and the center of the weld zone of the rail. Then, the vertical force characteristics of the wheel and rail are investigated under the combined excitation of wheel flats and rail weld irregularities. The results show that when the flat wheel passes through the superimposed weld irregularity, the vertical wheel-rail force response obviously fluctuates with the change of relative position. A local peak of the vertical wheel-rail force appears at the relative position near the start and end points of the short-wavelength weld irregularity. Near the local peak, the maximum vertical wheel-rail force increases with the length of the wheel flat, the vehicle speed and the depth of the short-wavelength of the weld, and decreases with the wavelength of the short-wavelength irregularity of the weld. It is significantly higher than the force caused by a single wheel flat without considering the rail weld. The vehicle passes through the given rail weld zone at a speed of 60 km/h when the wheel flat is 30 mm long, the maximum vertical wheel–rail force is 262.3 kN, which corresponds to an increase of approximately 320.3% compared to the normal static wheel load. The investigation of the vertical wheel-rail forces when subway flat wheels pass through rail weld zones aims to provide valuable theoretical reference for subway operation and maintenance.

Key words: metro vehicle, rigid-flexible coupling dynamics, wheel flat, rail weld irregularity, wheel-rail vertical force

CLC Number:

U260
U270

LONG Hui, TAO Gongquan, LIANG Hongqin, LU Chun, WEN Zefeng, ZHANG Kai, LIU Qifeng, XIAO Qian. Analysis of Wheel-rail Vertical Force Characteristics Due to Flat Wheel Passing through Rail Weld Zone in Metro[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 61(20): 263-273.

References

[1] 敬霖，刘凯. 车轮踏面缺陷引起的轮轨动态响应综述[J]. 交通运输工程学报，2021，21(1)：285-315. JING Lin，LIU Kai. Review on wheel-rail dynamic responses caused by wheel tread defects[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering，2021，21(1)：285-315.
[2] WU T X，THOMPSON D J. A hybrid model for the noise generation due to railway wheel flats[J]. Journal of Sound and Vibration，2002，251(1)：115-139.
[3] 翟婉明，涂贵军，高建敏. 地铁线路钢轨焊接区轮轨动力学问题[J]. 振动、测试与诊断，2012，32(5)：701-708. ZHAI Wanming，TU Guijun，GAO Jianmin. The problem of wheel-rail dynamics in the rail welding area of subway lines[J]. Journal of Vibration，Measurement & Diagnosis，2012，32(5)：701-708.
[4] STEENBERGEN M J M M. The role of the contact geometry in wheel-rail impact due to wheel flats[J]. Vehicle System Dynamics，2007，45(12)：1097-1116.
[5] 王忆佳，曾京，高浩，等. 车轮扁疤引起的轮轨冲击分析[J]. 西南交通大学学报，2014，49(4)：700-705. WANG Yijia，ZENG Jing，GAO Hao，et al. Analysis of wheel/rail impact induced by wheel flats[J]. Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University，2014，49(4)：700-705.
[6] WU X，RAKHEJA S，AHMED A K W，et al. Influence of a flexible wheelset on the dynamic responses of a high-speed railway car due to a wheel flat[J]. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers，Part F：Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit，2018，232(4)：1033-1048.
[7] 刘国云，曾京，邬平波，等. 车轮扁疤所引起的车辆系统振动特性分析[J]. 机械工程学报，2020，56(8)：182-189. LIU Guoyun，ZENG Jing，WU Pingbo，et al. Vibration characteristic analysis of vehicle systems due to wheel flat[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering，2020，56(8)：182-189.
[8] WU X，CHI M. Study on stress states of a wheelset axle due to a defective wheel[J]. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology，2016，30(11)：4845-4857.
[9] 凌亮，曹亚博，肖新标，等. 车轮擦伤对高速轮轨接触行为的影响[J]. 铁道学报，2015，37(7)：32-39. LING Liang，CAO Yabo，XIAO Xinbiao，et al. Effect of wheel flats on the high-speed wheel-rail contact behavior[J]. Journal of the China Railway Society，2015，37(7)：32-39.
[10] 任尊松. 车轮踏面三维扁疤轮轨系统冲击振动研究[J]. 机械工程学报，2018，54(15)：78-85. REN Zunsong. Study on wheel/rail impact dynamic with three dimensional wheel-flat model[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering，2018，54(15)：78-85.
[11] 王金能，敬霖，黄志辉. 考虑轮轨材料等效疲劳损伤车轮扁疤引起的轮轨冲击力学响应[J]. 振动与冲击，2022，41(2)：33-44. WANG Jinneng，JING Lin，HUANG Zhihui. Wheel-rail impact responses induced by a wheel flat considering the equivalent fatigue damage of wheel/rail materials[J]. Journal of Vibration and Shock，2022，41(2)：33-44.
[12] SKYTTEBOL A，JOSEFSON B L，RINGSBERG J W. Fatigue crack growth in a welded rail under the influence of residual stresses[J]. Engineering Fracture Mechanics，2005，72(2)：271-285.
[13] 罗文俊，练松良. 钢轨焊接接头受力测试研究[J]. 铁道工程学报，2008，25(9)：35-38. LUO Wenjun，LIAN Songliang. Research on the force test of rail welded joints[J]. Journal of Railway Engineering Society，2008，25(9)：35-38.
[14] GAO J，ZHAI W，GUO Y. Wheel-rail dynamic interaction due to rail weld irregularity in high-speed railways[J]. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers，Part F：Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit，2018，232(1)：249-261.
[15] XIAO G，XIAO X，GUO J，et al. Track dynamic behavior at rail welds at high speed[J]. Acta Mechanica Sinica，2010，26(3)：449-465.
[16] AN B，WANG P，XIAO J，et al. Dynamic response of wheel-rail interaction at rail weld in high-speed railway[J]. Shock and Vibration，2017：1-11.
[17] XU J，MA Q，ZHAO S，et al. Effect of wheel flat on dynamic wheel-rail impact in railway turnouts[J]. Vehicle System Dynamics，2022，60(6)：1829-1848.
[18] 林凤涛，黄琴，张海，等. CRH3高速列车多边形磨耗车轮通过钢轨波磨区段的轮轨力研究[J]. 铁道科学与工程学报，2021，18(7)：1706-1714. LIN Fengtao，HUANG Qin，ZHANG Hai，et al. Study on wheel-rail force of CRH3 high speed train with wheel polygon when passing corrugation rail[J]. Journal of Railway Science and Engineering，2021，18(7)：1706-1714.
[19] LU G B，CHEN R，WANG P，et al. Influence of out-of-round wheels on the vehicle-flexible track interaction at rail welds[J]. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers，Part F：Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit，2021，235(3)：313-327.
[20] 陈美，翟婉明，閤鑫，等. 高速铁路多边形车轮通过钢轨焊接区的轮轨动力特性分析[J]. 科学通报，2019，64(25)：2573-2582. CHEN Mei，ZHAI Wanming，GE Xin，et al. Analysis of wheel-rail dynamic characteristics due to polygonal wheel passing through rail weld zone in high-speed railways[J]. Chinese Science Bulletin，2019，64：2573-2582.
[21] DI GIALLEONARDO E，BRAGHIN F，BRUNI S. The influence of track modelling options on the simulation of rail vehicle dynamics[J]. Journal of Sound and Vibration，2012，331(19)：4246-4258.
[22] 金学松，温泽峰，王开云. 钢轨磨耗型波磨计算模型与数值方法[J]. 交通运输工程学报，2005，5(2)：12-18. JIN Xuesong，WEN Zefeng，WANG Kaiyun. Theoretical model and numerical method of rail corrugation[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering，2005，5(2)：12-18.
[23] 凌亮. 高速列车-轨道三维刚柔耦合动力学研究[D]. 成都：西南交通大学，2015. LING Liang. 3D Rigid-flexible coupling dynamics of high-speed train/track system[D]. Chengdu：Southwest Jiaotong University，2015.
[24] 刘孟奇，陶功权，肖国放，等. 中高频激励下轮轨不同建模方法对轮轨动态相互作用的影响[J]. 振动与冲击，2021，40(10)：150-158. LIU Mengqi，TAO Gongquan，XIAO Guofang，et al. Influence of the wheelset and track modelling approaches on wheel-rail dynamic interaction under excitation of medium-high frequency[J]. Journal of Vibration and Shock，2021，40(10)：150-158.
[25] 杨光，任尊松，袁雨青. 车轮扁疤伤损对高速列车轮对动力学性能影响[J]. 北京交通大学学报，2018，42(3)：103-111. YANG Guang，REN Zunsong，YUAN Yuqing. Influence of wheel flat on dynamic performance of high-speed train wheelset[J]. Journal of Beijing Jiaotong University，2018，42(3)：103-111.
[26] 杨云帆，陶功权，付青云，等. 直线电动机地铁线路焊接接头不平顺测试分析及安全限值研究[J]. 机械工程学报，2017，53(10)：125-135. YANG Yunfan，TAO Gongquan，FU Qingyun，et al. Field measurement and safety limits of rail weld irregularity on LIM metro line[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering，2017，53(10)：125-135.
[27] 高建敏，翟婉明. 高速铁路钢轨焊接区不平顺的动力效应及其安全限值研究[J]. 中国科学：技术科学，2014，44：697-706. GAO Jianmin，ZHAI Wanming. Dynamic effect and safety limits of rail weld irregularity on high-speed railways[J]. Scientia Sinica (Technologica)，2014，44：697-706.
[28] 肖广文. 钢轨焊接接头伤损分析[D]. 成都：西南交通大学，2010. XIAO Guangwen. Study on rail weld defect[D]. Chengdu：Southwest Jiaotong University，2010.