TY - JOUR

T1 - Experimental and Numerical Visualisation of Subsurface Rail Deformation in a Full-Scale Wheel–Rail Test Rig

AU - Gschwandl, Timna Jakomijna

AU - Weniger, Tristan M.

AU - Antretter, Thomas

AU - Künstner, David

AU - Scheriau, Stephan

AU - Daves, Werner

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.

PY - 2023/6

Y1 - 2023/6

N2 - To tackle the problem of various types of rail damage, such as rolling contact fatigue (RCF) or wear, a profound knowledge of the occurring mechanisms is necessary. This paper presents a newly developed full-scale test rig experiment that involves inserting softer pins into the rail head. These tests help deepen our understanding of shear deformation in rail steels. Furthermore, a finite element (FE) simulation approach is introduced that can be related to the test rig experiments. With these experiments, in combination with the FE simulation, valuable information regarding the plastic deformation can be obtained. This methodology allows predictions regarding a rail’s material behaviour during cyclic wheel loading. Moreover, it enables an effective and rapid qualitative material assessment, reducing the costs of expensive and time-consuming experiments.

AB - To tackle the problem of various types of rail damage, such as rolling contact fatigue (RCF) or wear, a profound knowledge of the occurring mechanisms is necessary. This paper presents a newly developed full-scale test rig experiment that involves inserting softer pins into the rail head. These tests help deepen our understanding of shear deformation in rail steels. Furthermore, a finite element (FE) simulation approach is introduced that can be related to the test rig experiments. With these experiments, in combination with the FE simulation, valuable information regarding the plastic deformation can be obtained. This methodology allows predictions regarding a rail’s material behaviour during cyclic wheel loading. Moreover, it enables an effective and rapid qualitative material assessment, reducing the costs of expensive and time-consuming experiments.

KW - finite element analysis (FEA)

KW - full-scale test rig

KW - rolling contact fatigue

KW - shear deformation

KW - wheel–rail contact

KW - Experimental and Numerical Visualisation

KW - Subsurface Rail Deformation

KW - Full-Scale Wheel-Rail Test-Rig

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163797402&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/met13061089

DO - 10.3390/met13061089

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85163797402

VL - 13.2023

JO - Metals

JF - Metals

SN - 2075-4701

IS - 6

M1 - 1089

ER -