Thermo-mechanical finite element analysis of a rail wheel

Abstract The rail wheel, which is acted upon by mechanical forces also experiences thermal stresses due to braking, during service. The coupled nature of these forces is analysed using a three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element model. Contact stresses at the rail–wheel interaction location are analysed using a global – local approach on a three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element model. The paper also brings out the size and shape of the plastic zone at the contact region. Commercial finite element code ABAQUS has been used for the analysis and SDRC’s I-DEAS has been used for modelling. American Association of Railroad’s standards, available for the purpose of analytical evaluation of the rail wheel, has also been critically evaluated in this work.