Development of a vehicle track interaction model to predict the vibratory benefits of rail grinding in the time domain

Imperfections in the wheel-rail contact are one of the main sources of generation of railway vibrations. Consequently, it is essential to take expensive corrective maintenance measures, the results of which may be unknown. In order to assess the effectiveness of these measures, this paper develops a vehicle-track interaction model in the time domain of a curved track with presence of rail corrugation on the inner rail. To characterize the behavior of the track, a numerical finite element model is developed using ANSYS software, while the behavior of the vehicle is characterized by a unidirectional model of two masses developed with VAMPIRE PRO software. The overloads obtained with the dynamic model are applied to the numerical model and then, the vibrational response of the track is obtained. Results are validated with real data and used to assess the effectiveness of rail grinding in the reduction of wheel-rail forces and the vibration generation phenomenon.Real Herráiz, JI.; Zamorano, C.; Velarte, JL.; Blanco, AE. (2015). Development of a vehicle track interaction model to predict the vibratory benefits of rail grinding in the time domain. Journal of Modern Transportation. 23(3):189-201. doi:10.1007/s40534-015-0078-yS189201233Grassie SL, Kalousek J (1993) Rail corrugation: characteristics, causes and treatments. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F: J Rail Rapid Transit 207:57–68Grassie SL (2005) Rail corrugation: advances in measurement, understanding and treatment. Wear 258:1224–1234Grassie SL (2009) Rail corrugation: characteristics, causes and treatments. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F: J Rail Rapid Transit 223:581–596Suda Y, Komine H, Iwasa T, Terumichi Y (2002) Experimental study on mechanism of rail corrugation using corrugation simulator. Wear 253:162–171Jin XS, Wen ZF, Wang KY, Zhou ZR, Liu QY, Li CH (2006) Three-dimensional train–track model for study of rail corrugation. J Sound Vib 293(3):830–855Zhao X, Li Z, Esveld C, Dollevoet R (2007) The dynamic stress state of the wheel–rail contact. In: Proceedings of the 2nd IASME/WSEAS international conference on continuum mechanicsTorstensson P, Nielsen J (2011) Simulation of dynamic vehicle-track interaction on small radius curves. Veh Syst Dyn 49(11):1711–1732Hawari HM, Murray MH (2008) Effects of train characteristics on the rate of deterioration of track roughness. J Eng Mech 134(3):234–239Ling L, Li W, Shang H, Xiao X, Wen Z, Jin X (2014) Experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of rail corrugation on the behaviour of rail fastenings. Veh Syst Dyn 52(9):1211–1231Collette C, Horodinca M, Preumont A (2009) Rotational vibration absorber for the mitigation of rail rutting corrugation. Veh Syst Dyn 47:641–659Egaña J, Viñolas J, Gil-Negrete L (2005) Effect of liquid high positive friction (HPF) modifier on wheel-rail contact and rail corrugation. Tribol Int 38:769–774Real Herraiz JI, Galisteo Cabeza A, Real T, Zamorano Martin C (2012) Study of wave barriers design for the mitigation of railway ground vibrations. J Vibroeng 14(1):408–422Real JI, Zamorano C, Hernandez C, Comendador R, Real T (2014) Computational considerations of 3-D finite element method models of railway vibration prediction in ballasted tracks. J Vibroeng 16(4):1709–1722Andersen L, Jones CJ (2001) Three-dimensional elastodynamic analysis using multiple boundary element domains. ISVR Technical Memorandum, University of Southampton, SouthamptonLópez Pita A (2006) Infraestructuras Ferroviarias. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaAlves P, Calçada R, Silva A (2011) Vibrations induced by railway traffic: influence of the mechanical properties of the train on the dynamic excitation mechanism. In: Proceedings of the 8th international conference on structural dynamics, EURODYN 2011, Leuven, BelgiumFerrara R, Leonardi G, Jourdan F (2012) Numerical modelling of train induced vibrations. In: SIIV-5th international congress—sustainability of road infrastructures, Rome, ItalyUzzal RU, Ahmed AK, Bhat RB (2013) Modelling, validation and analysis of a three-dimensional railway vehicle–track system model with linear and nonlinear track properties in the presence of wheel flats. Veh Syst Dyn 51(11):1695–1721Eadie DT, Kalousek J, Chiddick KC (2002) The role of high positive friction (HPF) modifier in the control of short pitch corrugations and related phenomena. Wear 253:185–19