Estimation of actual residual stresses due to braking and contact loading of rail vehicle wheels

72991036914628Final report; February 1993 - July 1995PDFTech ReportDOT-VNTSC-FRA-95-13DOT/FRA/ORD-96/02R-3026/RR-328R-4005/RR428R-5005/RR-528DynamicsFinite element methodRail (Railroads)Residual stressShakedown testsStressesThermal stressesWheelsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationHolowinski, MBobrov, E SMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and DevelopmentNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail SafetyNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Rail SafetyVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterA finite element formulation for shakedown stress analysis of rail vehicle wheels is presented, based on a hypothesis that the shakedown state is axisymmetric. The method can be used to estimate shakedown stresses in wheels subjected to combined mechanical (wheel/rail contact) and thermal (temperature gradients and thermal stress due to braking) loads. The formulation includes provisions for initial manufacturing stress, shifting contact locations, and temperature-dependent material properties. Validation results and demonstration example analysis of an actual wheel design are presented