Optimization of vibration absorbers for the suppression of rail corrugation in the sharp curved section with Cologne-egg fasteners

Abstract

Rail corrugation in the sharp curved section with Cologne-egg fasteners is suppressed by vibration absorbers, in which the suppression mechanism is unclear and the optimization method of the vibration absorber needs to be further investigated. Firstly, the complex eigenvalue and dynamic transient methods are adopted to investigate the vibration inducement of rail corrugation and influence law of vibration absorber on the rail corrugation. Then, the optimization methods of absorbers are studied from the perspectives of the connection stiffness, connection damping and different installation methods of absorbers. Results show that vibration inducement of rail corrugation in the sharp curved section with Cologne-egg fasteners includes the friction-induced oscillation of the entire system and feedback oscillation of undulatory wear. The installation of the vibration absorber can effectively weaken the impact of the vibration inducement, thereby inhibiting the rail corrugation. When the vertical and lateral connection stiffness are 120 MN·m⁻¹ and 60 MN·m⁻¹ respectively, the vertical and lateral connection damping are 100 kN·s·m⁻¹ and 50 kN·s·m⁻¹ respectively, the vibration absorber has the best effect of suppressing rail corrugation. Moreover, the continuous installation on both rail webs can be adopted to achieve the better inhibitory effect of the absorber.

KEYWORDS:

• Rail corrugation
• vibration absorber
• Cologne-egg fastener
• friction-induced oscillation
• feedback oscillation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research: National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 52275176 and 51805057], Chongqing Natural Science Foundation [CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1542], Chongqing Municipal Education Commission Science and Technology Research Project [KJZD-K202100703], Sichuan Science and Technology Program [23GJHZ0190], the Research Innovation Foundation Designated for Graduate Students of Chongqing Jiaotong University [2022S0041].