Numerical simulation of rail corrugation on a curved track

The effects of track vibration with its natural frequency in the vertical and lateral directions on the formation and development of rail corrugation are analysed in detail in the present study. Kalker’s rolling contact theory with non-Hertzian form is modified and then used to calculate the frictional work density on the contact area of the wheel and rail in rolling when a wheelset is steadily curving. A model presenting the material loss of unit area proportional to the frictional work density is used to determine the wear of contact surface material of the rail. Due to the continuous and repeated rolling/slip contact of the wheel and rail the accumulation of the wear obtained by calculation reveals a periodical change in the rolling direction of the wheel. The numerical results also show that the track vibration with its natural frequencies can cause the formation of initial corrugation on the smooth contact surface of rail during the first passage of wheelset. The occurring wavelength of the corrugation depends on the frequencies and the rolling speed of the wheelset, and the depth and growth speed of corrugation depend on the vibration amplitude of the contact normal load and the lateral vibration of track.