Parametric investigation of railway fastenings into the formation and mitigation of short pitch corrugation

Abstract

Short pitch corrugation has been a problem for railways worldwide over one century. In this paper, a parametric investigation of fastenings is conducted to understand the corrugation formation mechanism and gain insights into corrugation mitigation. A three-dimensional finite element vehicle–track dynamic interaction model is employed, which considers the coupling between the structural dynamics and the contact mechanics, while the damage mechanism is assumed to be differential wear. Various fastening models with different configurations, boundary conditions, and parameters of stiffness and damping are built up and analysed. These models may represent different service stages of fastenings in the field. Besides, the effect of train speeds on corrugation features is studied. The results indicate: (1) Fastening parameters and modelling play an important role in corrugation formation. (2) The fastening longitudinal constraint to the rail is the major factor that determines the corrugation formation. The fastening vertical and lateral constraints influence corrugation features in terms of spatial distribution and wavelength components. (3) The strengthening of fastening constraints in the longitudinal dimension helps to mitigate corrugation. Meanwhile, the inner fastening constraint in the lateral direction is necessary for corrugation alleviation. (4) The increase in fastening longitudinal stiffness and damping can reduce the vibration amplitudes of longitudinal compression modes and thus reduce the track corrugation propensity. The simulation in this work can well explain the field corrugation in terms of the occurrence possibility and major wavelength components. It can also explain the field data with respect to the small variation between the corrugation wavelength and train speed, which is caused by frequency selection and jump between rail longitudinal compression modes.

Keywords

Short pitch corrugation / Fastening modelling and parameters / Corrugation formation and mitigation / Rail longitudinal compression modes / Finite element vehicle–track interaction model

References

[1.] Grassie S, Kalousek J. Rail corrugation: characteristics, causes and treatments. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit, 1993, 207(16): 57-68

[2.] Deng X, Qian Z, Li Z, et al.. Investigation of the formation of corrugation-induced rail squats based on extensive field monitoring. Int J Fatigue, 2018, 112: 94-105

[3.] Han J, Xiao X, Wu Y, et al.. Effect of rail corrugation on metro interior noise and its control. Appl Acoust, 2018, 130: 63-70

[4.] Xin T, Wang S, Gao L, et al.. Field measurement of rail corrugation influence on environmental noise and vibration: a case study in China. Measurement, 2020, 164: 108084

[5.] Neilsen J. Evolution of rail corrugation predicted with a non-linear wear model. J Sound Vib, 1999, 227(5): 915-933

[6.] Meehan P, Bellette P, Batten R, et al.. A case study of wear-type rail corrugation prediction and control using speed variation. J Sound Vib, 2009, 325(1–2): 85-105

[7.] Vuong T, Meehan P, Eadie D, et al.. Investigation of a transitional wear model for wear and wear-type rail corrugation prediction. Wear, 2011, 271(1–2): 287-298

[8.] Correa N, Vadillo E, Santamaria J, et al.. A versatile method in the space domain to study short-wave rail undulatory wear caused by rail surface defects. Wear, 2016, 352–353: 196-208

[9.] Zhao X, Zhang P, Wen Z. On the coupling of the vertical, lateral and longitudinal wheel–rail interactions at high frequencies and the resulting irregular wear. Wear, 2019, 430–431: 317-326

[10.] Cui X, He Z. Huang B et al Study on the effects of wheel–rail friction self-excited vibration and feedback vibration of corrugated irregularity on rail corrugation. Wear, 2021, 477: 203854

[11.] Li W, Zhou Z, Zhao X, Wen Z, et al.. Formation mechanism of short-pitch rail corrugation on metro tangent tracks with resilient fasteners. Veh Syst Dyn, 2023, 61(6): 1524-1547

[12.] Hempelmann K, Knothe K. An extended linear model for the prediction of short pitch corrugation. Wear, 1996, 191: 161-169

[13.] Muller S. A linear wheel–track model to predict instability and short pitch corrugation. J Sound Vib, 1999, 227(5): 899-913

[14.] Hiensch M, Nielsen JC, Verheijen E. Rail corrugation in The Netherlands—measurements and simulations. Wear, 2002, 253(1–2): 140-149

[15.] Grassie S. Rail corrugation: characteristics, causes, and treatments. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit, 2009, 223(6): 581-596

[16.] Afferrante L, Ciavarella M. Short-pitch rail corrugation: a possible resonance-free regime as a step forward to explain the “enigma”?. Wear, 2009, 266(9–10): 934-944

[17.] Oostermeijer K. Review on short pitch rail corrugation studies. Wear, 2008, 265(9–10): 1231-1237

[18.] Wang Y, Wu T. The growth and mitigation of rail corrugation due to vibrational interference between moving wheels and resilient track. Veh Syst Dyn, 2020, 58(8): 1257-1284

[19.] Wu T, Thompson D. An investigation into rail corrugation due to micro-slip under multiple wheel/rail interactions. Wear, 2005, 258(7–8): 1115-1125

[20.] Ma C, Gao L, Xin T, et al.. The dynamic resonance under multiple flexible wheelset–rail interactions and its influence on rail corrugation for high-speed railway. J Sound Vib, 2021, 498: 115968

[21.] Robles R, Correa N, Vadillo EG, et al.. Comprehensive efficient vertical and lateral track dynamic model to study the evolution of rail corrugation in sharp curves. J Sound Vib, 2023, 545: 117448

[22.] Li S, Li Z, Núñez A, et al.. New insights into the short pitch corrugation enigma based on 3D-FE coupled dynamic vehicle–track modeling of frictional rolling contact. Appl Sci, 2017, 7(8): 807

[23.] Li Z, Li S, Zhang P, Núñez A, et al.. Mechanism of short pitch rail corrugation: initial excitation and frequency selection for consistent initiation and growth. Int J Rail Transp, 2022,

[24.] Zhang P, Li S, Li Z. Short pitch corrugation mitigation by rail constraint design. Int J Mech Sci, 2022, 243: 108037

[25.] Zhang P, Li Z. Experimental study on the development mechanism of short pitch corrugation using a downscale V-Track test rig. Tribol Int, 2023, 180: 108293

[26.] Zhang H, Liu W, Liu W, et al.. Study on the cause and treatment of rail corrugation for Beijing metro. Wear, 2014, 317(1–2): 120-128

[27.] Liu W, Zhang H, Liu W, et al.. Experimental study of the treatment measures for rail corrugation on tracks with egg fasteners in the Beijing metro. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit, 2018, 232(5): 1360-1374

[28.] Eldred LB, Baker WP, Palazotto AN. Kelvin–Voigt versus fractional derivative model as constitutive relations for viscoelastic materials. AIAA J, 1995, 33(3): 547-550

[29.] Ripke B (1995) Hochfrequente Gleismodellierung und Simulation der Fahrzeug-Gleis-Dynamik unter Verwendung einer nichtlinearen Kontaktmechanik. VDI-Verlag, Düsseldorf

[30.] Oregui M, De Man A, Woldekidan M, et al.. Obtaining railpad properties via dynamic mechanical analysis. J Sound Vib, 2016, 363: 460-472

[31.] Fenander A. A fractional derivative railpad model included in a railway track model. J Sound Vib, 1998, 212(5): 889-903

[32.] Xu J, Li J. Stochastic dynamic response and reliability assessment of controlled structures with fractional derivative model of viscoelastic dampers. Mech Syst Signal Process, 2016, 72–73: 865-896

[33.] Oregui M, Li Z, Dollevoet R. An investigation into the modeling of railway fastening. Int J Mech Sci, 2015, 92: 1-11

[34.] Thompson D, Jones C, Wu T, et al.. The influence of the non-linear stiffness behaviour of rail pads on the track component of rolling noise. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit, 1999, 213(4): 233-241

[35.] Egana J, Vinolas J, Seco M. Investigation of the influence of rail pad stiffness on rail corrugation on a transit system. Wear, 2006, 261(2): 216-224

[36.] Wei K, Wang F, Wang P, et al.. Effect of temperature-and frequency-dependent dynamic properties of rail pads on high-speed vehicle–track coupled vibrations. Veh Syst Dyn, 2017, 55(3): 351-370

[37.] Zhao X, Li Z, Dollevoet R. Influence of the fastening modeling on the vehicle–track interaction at singular rail surface defects. J Comput Nonlinear Dyn, 2014, 9(3): 031002

[38.] Knothe KL, Grassie SL. Modelling of railway track and vehicle/track interaction at high frequencies. Veh Syst Dyn, 1993, 22(3–4): 209-262

[39.] Zhao X, Li Z. The solution of frictional wheel–rail rolling contact with a 3D transient finite element model: validation and error analysis. Wear, 2011, 271(1–2): 444-452

[40.] Yang Z, Deng X, Li Z. Numerical modeling of dynamic frictional rolling contact with an explicit finite element method. Tribol Int, 2019, 129: 214-231

[41.] Benson DJ, Hallquist JO. A single surface contact algorithm for the post-buckling analysis of shell structures. Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng, 1990, 78(2): 141-163

[42.] Yang Z, Boogaard A, Chen R, et al.. Numerical and experimental study of wheel–rail impact vibration and noise generated at an insulated rail joint. Int J Impact Eng, 2018, 113: 29-39

[43.] Oregui M, Li Z, Dollevoet R. An investigation into the vertical dynamics of tracks with monoblock sleepers with a 3D finite-element model. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit, 2016, 230(3): 891-908

[44.] Yang Z, Zhang P, Wang L. Wheel–rail impact at an insulated rail joint in an embedded rail system. Eng Struct, 2021, 246: 113026

[45.] Li Z, Zhao X, Esveld C, et al.. An investigation into the causes of squats—correlation analysis and numerical modeling. Wear, 2008, 265(9–10): 1349-1355

[46.] Li Z, Dollevoet R, Molodova M, et al.. Squat growth—some observations and the validation of numerical predictions. Wear, 2011, 271(1–2): 148-157

[47.] Sadeghi J, Seyedkazemi M, Khajehdezfuly A. Nonlinear simulation of vertical behavior of railway fastening system. Eng Struct, 2020, 209: 110340

[48.] Molodova M, Li Z, Núñez A, et al.. Validation of a finite element model for axle box acceleration at squats in the high frequency range. Comput Struct, 2014, 141: 84-93

[49.] Zhang P, Li S, Núñez A, et al.. Multimodal dispersive waves in a free rail: Numerical modeling and experimental investigation. Mech Syst Signal Process, 2021, 150: 107305

[50.] Zhang P, Li S, Núñez A, et al.. Vibration modes and wave propagation of the rail under fastening constraint. Mech Syst Signal Process, 2021, 160: 107933

[51.] Kalousek J, Johnson K. An investigation of short pitch wheel and rail corrugations on the Vancouver mass transit system. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit, 1992, 206(2): 127-135

[52.] Shen C, Dollevoet R, Li Z. Fast and robust identification of railway track stiffness from simple field measurement. Mech Syst Signal Process, 2021, 152: 107431

[53.] Shen C, Zhang P, Dollevoet R, et al.. Evaluating railway track stiffness using axle box accelerations: a digital twin approach. Mech Syst Signal Process, 2023, 204: 110730

[54.] Croft B, Jones C, Thompson D. Modelling the effect of rail dampers on wheel–rail interaction forces and rail roughness growth rates. J Sound Vib, 2009, 323(1–2): 17-32

[55.] Wu T. Effects on short pitch rail corrugation growth of a rail vibration absorber/damper. Wear, 2011, 271(1–2): 339-348

[56.] Yang F, Zhang P, Wang Y, et al.. Refined nonlinear fractional derivative model of vehicle–track coupling dynamics. Int J Non-Linear Mech, 2023, 154: 104444

Funding

China Scholarship Council(201607000026)