Review of wheel-rail forces measuring technology for railway vehicles

In this paper, the research status of three types of wheel-rail interaction force measuring approaches, that is, IWS, ground measurement method and indirect measurement method, are summarized systematically. According to the measuring locations, the IWS can be determined by measuring the bending strain of the axle, as well as the strain of the wheel web. The measuring principle, bridge assembly method, calibration test and sensing technology of IWS are introduced respectively. This paper introduces the ground measurement method of measuring·wheel-rail force by arranging sensors on the rail and other track components to test their response, and the indirect methods for wheel-rail forces measurement are reviewed, which is derived from inertial force and suspension force of wheelset according to the force states of the wheelset. The advantages and disadvantages of the IWS, the ground measurement method and the indirect measurement method are analyzed. The investigation results show that the measuring principle of the IWS is relatively mature, and its measurement accuracy mainly depends on the manufacturing technology, bench calibration and signal acquisition. Future development of the IWS tend to realize the non-destructive, wireless, continuous and accurate measurement of the wheel-rail forces and contact points locations.