Analysis Of Wheel/Rail Contact Based On Vector Form Intrinsic Finite Element Method

Wheel/rail in rolling contact is a highly nonlinear system, and it has been a complicated and fundamental research subject in railway system for a long time. In this thesis, the vector form intrinsic finite element (V-5) is adopted to solve two-dimensional wheel/rail contact problem. The objective of this paper is to introduce the V-5into wheel/rail rolling contact research, and to develop a new method for solving wheel/rail rolling contact problem.First of all, the art-of-the-state of contact algorithms and the V-5is discussed. Then, particle-controlling equations are deduced based on the theory of the V-5. The combination of the V-5and gap element method (V-5-gap) is used in the two-dimensional wheel/rail contact problem in static state. In order to solve the two-dimensional wheel/rail rolling contact problem, a penalty function method as a rolling contact algorithm is inserted into the V-5contact module.A static wheel/rail contact model is developed. The modulus and normal strain’s change law of gap elements are analyzed. The numerical results indicate that a damping factor influences the computational efficiency in static contact situation, In order to verify the feasibility of the V-5-gap, the model’s numerical results are compared with those obtained from the model built by using the software ABAQUS and the model on the basis of Hertz’s theory. It finds that the maximum pressures and the contact patch widths obtained by the three methods agreed well.A two-dimensional rolling contact model of wheel/rail is presented, the numerical operation of which is carried out by means of by using the penalty function method. This model’s feasibility is verified through the comparison of the numerical results and the results of the Hertz model, which shows their good agreement. This numerical calculation case considers the wheel running at the speed160km/h under the axle load of10t. Then the influence of speed on rolling contact has been analyzed. It is indicated that the wheel/rail von-mises stresses have a slow increase due to the speed increase, and the normal contact pressure increases a little in the leading area of the contact area, and decreases a little in the trailing area of the contact area, the reason for this is discussed in the thesis. Besides, the axle load increase leads to an increase in the maximum contact pressure and contact patch.