The Analysis of Creepage at the Wheel-Rail Interface for Light Rail Transit
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Date
2023-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study focuses on the analysis of creepage at the wheel-rail interface in railway systems. Creepage refers to the relative motion between the wheel and rail when the sliding force exceeds the adhesion force. A multi-body system dynamic simulation approach using Simpack software is employed to capture the dynamics of the wheel-rail system, including interaction forces, contact patch behavior, and resulting creepage. The objectives of this analysis are to investigate the effects of rail irregularity, velocity variation, and adhesion coefficients on creepage and creep forces. The study first examines the impact of rail irregularities on creepage and creep forces by analyzing their presence in the wheel-rail interaction. Subsequently, creepage and creep forces are studied in the absence of rail irregularities to isolate their effects on the overall system dynamics. The influence of velocity variation on creepage and creep forces is also investigated, considering variations in vehicle speed that can significantly affect the behavior and forces at the wheel-rail interface. The results indicate that rail irregularities increase creepage and creep forces, while their absence leads to lower values. Higher velocities generally generate greater creepage and creep forces compared to lower velocities, highlighting the importance of considering velocity variation in the analysis. Furthermore, the adhesion coefficient plays a crucial role in determining the level of creepage and creep forces. Higher adhesion coefficients are associated with lower creepage and creep forces, emphasizing the influence of adhesion on the wheel-rail interface. The study concludes by analyzing creepage and creep force considering different adhesion coefficients. Analytical simulations are conducted to assess the effects of varying adhesion coefficients on creepage and creep force, providing valuable insights into the influence of adhesion on the wheel-rail interface. Overall, this research contributes to a better understanding of creepage at the wheel-rail interface by considering various conditions such as rail irregularity, velocity variation, and adhesion coefficients. The findings have implications for improving the performance and safety of railway systems.