Multi-criteria evaluation of wheel/rail degradation at railway crossings

Journal article (2020)

Authors

Z. Wei Railway Engineering - CEG , China Academy of Railway Sciences
Alfredo Nunez Railway Engineering - CEG
Xiubo Liu China Academy of Railway Sciences, Infrastructure Inspection Research Institute
R.P.B.J. Dollevoet Railway Engineering - CEG
Z. Li Railway Engineering - CEG
Research Group
Railway Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 Z. Wei, Alfredo Nunez, Xiubo Liu, R.P.B.J. Dollevoet, Z. Li
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2019.106107
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Engineering Structures

Research Group

Railway Engineering

Abstract

This study evaluates the degradation of wheels and rails at railway crossings. The evaluation method is composed of 1) finite element simulation of dynamic wheel/crossing interaction and 2) multi-criteria analysis of wheel/rail degradation in terms of yield behavior, rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and wear. With the aid of this method, we conducted a case study identifying the proper yield strength of rail steel material for a 54E1-1:9 crossing under a specified traffic condition. The case study indicates that the wear of contact bodies is more sensitive to train speed compared with yield and RCF; the increase of rail yield strength suppresses rail degradation while exacerbating wheel degradation; and rail yield strength in the range of 500–600 MPa is preferred to achieve a good trade-off between the wheel and rail degradations.