The reasons for the growth of corrugations on rails and wheels in the Vancouver (Canada) mass transit system are described. The measures taken to eliminate them are outlined. In the Vancouver transit system, by design, the longitudinal and lateral creepages in the wheel/rail interface were absent. The fastener subassembly contains a 25 mm thick layer of natural rubber to absorb vibrations and provide the desired resiliency. The track gauge is maintained to an accuracy of +/- 1 mm. According to the corrugation theories, the lack of longitudinal and lateral creepage in the rail wheel interface was expected to keep the system free from wheel rail vibrations, excessive noise, and corrugations. Yet, six months after opening, 85% of the track was corrugated and the noise levels were rather high. The corrugations on the rails and the wheels are eliminated by means of controlling the friction characteristic and the conformity of rail wheel profiles.
Surface Observations of Stick-Slip Oscillations in Tightly Conformal Wheel/Rail Contacts
1992
17 pages
Report
No indication
English
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