Development methods for measuring dynamic forces in the wheel-rail system using a model experiment and strain-gauging

A railway rolling stock passes along the track, while the wheel interacts with the rail and dynamic loads occur in this system. The forces simultaneously act on the wheel, as well as on the rest of the car, and on the track bed. All other things being equal, the greater the rigidity of the elements in the system, the greater the dynamic forces. Unsprung parts of the carriage and the rails are particularly strongly influenced by dynamic impacts with increased rigidity of the under-rail base. If the dynamic forces turn out to be greater than normal, they cause increased stress values and the progression of defects, the development of fatigue cracks in rails and in wagon parts. In conditions of increased transportation, this can have consequences and lead to critical defects.

The article discusses the experience of setting up a model experiment to study the distribution of deformations of the track bed during the passage of rolling stock under various test conditions.

The purpose of this study was to improve the methods of measuring dynamic forces in the wheel-rail system, as well as to develop and verify adequate models for studying the processes occurring in the wheel-rail system.

Within the framework of the study, the conditions for model verification have been established, under which the implementation of model experiments is possible. The paper analyzes the deformed state of the rail under train load and evaluates the applicability of the model to the task of estimating rail deformations. The verification of the created model was carried out by the type of boundary conditions, by the size of the finite elements, by the type of load and the size of the contact spot, as well as by the location of the boundary section. The dependence of deflection upon a change in stiffness in the wheel-rail system has been established. It is proposed to improve the method of restoring the existing loads in the wheel and rail system. The proposed method for determining the acting forces makes it possible to increase the accuracy of measurements and reduce errors.

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