Transient analysis of the vertical interaction between the new type 80 rail and train wheel

Abstract

Due to the increasing speeds of railway vehicles and the rise in axle loads, high-frequency dynamic loads occur during train passages. This situation generates significant vibrations in the railway superstructure and substructure, leading to structural damage. In this study, the development and analysis of a new type 80 rail system are aimed at mitigating such vibrations and structural issues. The proposed rail design is intended to reduce wear resulting from rail-wheel interaction, provide a long service life, and offer high load-carrying capacity. Within the scope of the study, the rail design was modeled in three dimensions using SolidWorks software, and a transient analysis was subsequently conducted in the ANSYS Workbench environment. In the transient analysis conducted over the time interval of 0.1 to 1 second, the rail exhibited an average deformation of 0.1926 mm, an equivalent stress of 36.2 MPa, and an equivalent elastic strain of 1.74×10⁻⁴ mm/mm. In contrast, the wheel analysis yielded an average deformation of 0.0005 mm, an equivalent stress of 0.26 MPa, and an equivalent elastic strain of 1.36×10⁻⁶ mm/mm. When the rail and wheel were analyzed together, the results indicated extremely low deformation, with the average equivalent stress observed at approximately 10⁻¹² MPa and the equivalent elastic strain at 10⁻¹⁷ mm/mm. The analyses evaluate the contact between rails and wheels while the train is stationary, as well as the impact of suspension systems on vibration levels. This study aims to enhance the efficiency and reliability of railway transportation systems and to increase their overall attractiveness.