The influence of rail surface irregularities on contact forces and local stresses

The effect of initial rail surface irregularities on promoting further surface degradation is investi-gated. The study concerns rolling contact fatigue formation, in particular in the form of the so-calledsquats. The impact of surface irregularities in the form of dimples is quantified by peak magnitudesof dynamic contact stresses and contact forces. To this end simulations of two-dimensional (laterextended to three-dimensional) vertical dynamic vehicle–track interaction are employed. The mostinfluencing parameters are identified. It is shown that even very shallow dimples might have a largeimpact on local contact stresses. Peak magnitudes of contact forces and stresses due to the influenceof rail dimples are shown to exceed those due to rail corrugation