Visco-elastic contact spring in numerical simulations of train – track system vibrations

Abstract: In train – track coupled systems, interaction between subsystems occurs in wheel- rail contact. The most common contact model is perfectly elastic, linearized Hert’z spring. It has wide range of application in numerical simulations. In more detailed interaction models, the energy dissipation in wheel-rail contact is taken into account. There are no known comparisons of these models in the literature, that would indicate the effects of a specific solution application. In this paper, the main purpose is to analyze and compare the effects of two contact models in terms of numerical simulations of train – track vibrations. The reference contact model taken into account is linearized, perfectly elastic Hert’z spring. The second spring, proposed by the authors is enriched with viscous element based on hysteresis damping. Application of both models, and its effects were examined in plane, train – track vibrations simulations with threshold inequality excitation in the middle of the track length. Concluding from the analyzes performed, it was found that viscoelastic contact model application is important, when track stresses and fatigue are being investigated. In addition, it was found that neglecting the damping element in contact model reduces the probability of the wheel – rail contact loss phenomenon, and thus leads to incorrect identification of its occurrence. Keywords: Wheel/rail contact; Hertz contact; Linearized contact spring; Train/track dynamics