COMPARISON OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF DIFFERENT WHEELSET-TRACK MODELS

SUMMARY The simulation results of a wheelset modelled with two different wheel-rail elements are compared to each other. The first model is a wheelset element together with a track element. The contact between wheel and rail is treated as constraint and the kinematics of the wheelset is solved in advance. The second model is a wheel-rail interconnection element. The contact between wheel and rail is flexible. The results of the two models are compared for three different simulations. In the first simulation the wheelset modelled with the flexible contact patch is oscillating around a position with two contact points on one wheel. The second simulation is hunting of the wheelset with flange contact and the third is a hunting movement with small amplitudes. The normal forces calculated with the two elements differ in all three simulations. Beside flexibility and two point contact the reason for differences is the variation of the curvature in the contact points. In simulations governed by two point contact or when the wheel is bouncing to the flange it is recommended to work with flexible wheel-rail contact. But the main advantage of the wheel-rail interconnection element is the flexibility gained in modelling. It is not restricted to a wheelset, it has the advantage to model wheel-rail contact in very different wheel-rail guiding mechanism.