Rail Corrugations Caused by Low Coefficient of Friction in a Submarine Railway Tunnel

One of some types of rail corrugations is caused on railway rail surface in a submarine tunnel. It poses a large problem from the aspects of railway vehicle and railway track deterioration. In this paper, the mechanism of the rail corrugations was studied with the focus placed on roll-slip of wheel and rail interface. Traction and vertical force interacting between wheel and rail were investigated by a vehicle/track interaction model, and the coefficient of friction (COF) on rail surface was measured. Also, the rail surface was analysed with infrared to understand the chemical composition of surface layer influenced by salty and very humid atmosphere in the submarine tunnel. β-FeOOH was found out as a cause of reducing COF on rail surface.Copyright © 2005 by ASME