A Three-Dimensional Train-Structure Interaction Methodology: Experimental Validation

A wheel-rail contact method for analyzing the train-structure nonlinear interaction that takes into account the wheel and rail geometry is proposed in this article. The presented formulation is divided into three main parts: 1) the geometric problem consisting of the detection of the contact point and the calculation of all the geometric variables needed for determining the contact forces; 2) the normal contact problem in which the forces are determined based on the Hertz nonlinear theory; 3) the tangential contact problem in which the forces are calculated using the rolling friction laws proposed by Kalker. Most of the existing methods treat the contact forces in the normal and tangential directions as external forces, whereas the present formulation uses a contact element that takes into account the constitutive behaviour in the contact interface. The constraint equations that relate the displacements of the vehicle and structure are imposed using a direct method. The proposed method is validated using the results obtained in an experimental test consisting of a railroad car running over a rolling stock plant subjected to a lateral deviation.