DAMAGE IN SWITCHES AND CROSSINGS CONSIDERING STOCHASTIC SPREAD IN RAILWAY TRAFFIC PARAMETERS

Paper in proceeding, 2010

Dynamic interaction between a railway freight vehicle and a track switch is studied by simulations of stochastic vehicle dynamics. In particular, the influence of the spread (scatter) in traffic parameters on the damage in S&C is assessed. The considered stochastic parameters are wheel profile and wheel–rail friction coefficient. To form a database for sampling, 120 wheel profiles from freight wagons in traffic have been measured and categorized with respect to wear. It is shown that hollow worn wheels lead to the highest normal contact forces and contact stresses at the crossing.