Trend analysis of rail corrugation on the metro based on wheel–rail stick-slip characteristics

Abstract

According to the actual metro situation, the vehicle-track rigid-flexible coupling numerical model was established, and the wheel–rail stick-slip characteristics on straight and curve tracks were analysed. Meantime, the stick-slip characteristics under the negative friction condition and its influence on corrugation were studied. The results show that for the straight track without irregularity or with long wavelength irregularity, the reason for the occurrence or further development of corrugation may be related to the saturation of transverse adhesion coefficient; for the straight track with short wavelength irregularity, the further development of corrugation may be related to the saturation of longitudinal adhesion coefficient. Both the inside and outside wheel–rail interfaces on the curve track have the trend of stick-slip vibration, and the existence of short wavelength irregularity will aggravate the intensity of stick-slip vibration. The fixed defect on rail surface will lead to the same phase rail wear at the same position, give the same phase periodic stick-slip vibration. The overall dispersion rates of longitudinal and transverse adhesion coefficients at the inside wheel–rail interface are greater than the corresponding values at the outside, which indicates that the inner rail is more prone to stick-slip vibration with large intensity.

KEYWORDS:

• Metro
• corrugation
• stick-slip characteristics
• phase synchronisation
• negative friction

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 11772230).