Multi-objective Optimization of Wheel Profile of a High-speed Train to Improve Wheel Tread Wear and Rolling Contact Fatigue

doi:10.3901/JME.260347

Abstract

Abstract: To addressed arrow wheel tread wear and rolling contact fatigue rolling contact fatigue(RCF) occurred on a specific type of high-speed train during operation, a wheel profile design method based on multi-objective optimization is proposed in this study. The method consists of five modules：a high-speed vehicle dynamics model, a wheel profile construction procedure based on cubic non-uniform rational B-spline(NURBS) curves, a multi-objective optimization mathematical model considering the kernel density distribution of contact points, a back propagation neural network(BPNN) surrogate model, and the optimization algorithm non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II(NSGA-II). The optimized wheel profile is systematically evaluated from four aspects：wheel-rail static contact characteristics, vehicle dynamics performance, wheel wear evolution, and wheel RCF characteristics. The results show that, compared to the LMB10 profile used in the current train, the optimized wheel profile has a more even distribution of contact points and a 30.3% higher contact bandwidth when matching with the 60N rails. Additionally, the optimized profile offers greater running stability and better curving performance. With a wear predicted mileage of 200 000 km, the tread wear of the optimized profile is reduced by 24% and the wear bandwidth is increased by 49.5%. Furthermore, the optimized profile has improved resistance to RCF, with the peak damage value decreased by 41.1%.

Key words: high-speed train, wheel profile optimization, multi-objective optimization, wheel wear, rolling contact fatigue

CLC Number:

U211

LI Wenjie, WEN Bingguang, TAO Gongquan, TAN Mengsheng, WEN Zefeng. Multi-objective Optimization of Wheel Profile of a High-speed Train to Improve Wheel Tread Wear and Rolling Contact Fatigue[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2026, 62(12): 322-333.

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