Numerical and Theoretical Investigation of Wheel-Rail Contact

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the dynamic interaction between wheel and rail by finite element method
(FEM). The contact parameters through the movement of a wagon wheel on the 60 E1 rail profile is investigated by the
dynamic analysis based FEM. The wheel and rail profile are assumed as unworn members. The contacting bodies must
be elastic according to Hertz contact theory (HCT). Thus, the material properties of the wheel and rail are defined as
elastic for comparing results of finite element analysis with HCT. It was concluded from FEM results that a certain mesh
size is sufficient in order to find the contact force, but the mesh size must be reduced to obtain the contact area depending
on the Hertz contact theory.