2302 Influence of Wheel/Rail Lubrication on Vehicle/track Interaction

It is of great importance to understand the vehicle/track interaction excited by a vehicle negotiating sharp curves when analyzing vehicle stability and material integrity such as wheel flange and rail gauge face wear. The angle of attack and lateral force interacting between wheel and rail have been particularly focused on as parameters governing vehicle/track interaction. In this study, track site measurements were carried out in sharp curves at a test track and in operational sections of a revenue railway line to investigate the effect of lubrication on vehicle/track interaction. Also, the adequacy of vehicle dynamics simulation model was evaluated by comparing with track site measurements to estimate the effect of lubrication on vehicle/track interaction under various vehicle and track conditions. As a result, the lateral force and angle of attack estimated by the simulation model were agreed upon very much by those measured at track site. This paper describes the detailed setup and results of track site measurements and the possibility of vehicle dynamics simulation model to investigate the effect of lubrication on vehicle/track interaction.