WHEEL-RAIL CONTACT MECHANICS FOR SHORT WAVELENGTHS RAIL IRREGULARITIES

SUMMARY A linear contact model is presented which completely describes nonsteady state contact mechanics for elliptical contact patches. The contact model is based on a linearization of Kalker's three dimensional contact theory with respect to a nonlinear reference configuration and is able to consider an oscillating contact patch. As an output one obtaines frequency responses of the tangential forces for oscillating creepages or for an oscillating normal force which occurs when a wheel passes over irregularities of short wavelengths. Simple mechanical models are presented which can be incorporated in multibody systems including wheel/rail dynamics for the high frequency range.