Analysis of Wheel/Rail Force and Flange Force During Steady State Curving of Rigid Trucks

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15268541980PDFTech ReportWeinstock, HerbertGreif, RobertJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited StatesFlangesCar wheels (Railroads)WheelsCreepCurves (Geometry)LoadsNumerical analysisRail (Railroads)Railroad carsRailroad tracksRolling contactSteeringUndercarriagesVehicle designTwo axle trucksWheel profilesDOT-TSC-UMTA-80-26;UMTA-MA-06-0025-80-8MA-06-0025;UM004/R0746Interim report: Jun 1979-Dec 1979The wheel/rail dynamics interaction project being conducted as part of this program is directed toward reduction of maintenance costs and wheel/rail noise while providing acceptable ride quality and safety. This report describes the development of a simple analysis procedure for estimating the conservative bounds for the wheel/rail forces and flange forces resulting from the curve negotiation of a rigid two-axle truck. The approximate analysis presented provides closed form relations for estimating wheel/rail forces, flange forces, truck angle of attack, and sliding conditions for this type of truck as a function of curve radius. The wheel profiles are modeled by conical wheel treads with vertical wheel flanges and flange friction effects are included.138