Contact Analysis of the Two Dimensional Wheel-Rail Based on Finite Element Method

Wheel-rail contact mechanics is one of the fundamental areas for studying wheel-rail relationship, therefore, the study of wheel/rail contact is of great significance to solve related problems. In this paper, simplified two dimensional rigid wheel-rail and resilient wheel-rail contact finite element models are established, and the reliability of the established models is verified by comparison of the finite element method and Hertz theory results. In the vicinity of the rail joint, the contact conditions do not satisfy the relevant hypothesis of Hertz theory, so the finite element method is used to investigate the wheel/rail contact analysis in rail joint. The results show that wheel-rail contact pressure, maximum equivalent stress, the plastic deformation areas, and δx of the rail increases with the distance decreasing of the contact point to the rail joint. By comparing rigid wheel and resilient wheel, we also can find that the contact pressure, the maximun equivalent stress and δx of the resilient wheel-rail are less than the rigid wheel-rail, and width of contact area is basically same as rigid wheel-rail. Therefore, the use of resilient wheel can reduce the wear between wheel and rail and reduce the collapse of rail joint.