Optimization of a Tram Wheel Profile to Reduce Flange Wear on Sharp Curves

Owing to the existing of many sharp curves, the fast wear of wheel flanges has become a big problem in a Chinese tramway. To reduce the wheel flange wear rate and increase the lifetime of tram wheels, the authors have conducted extensive experimental measurements and numerical analyses. The long-term tracking measurement concentrating on the natural wear process of the tram wheels have been carried out. This paper reports the flange wear characteristics and developing law of the tram wheels based on measured data. An optimal wheel profile for the tram vehicle was proposed based on a large number of multi-body dynamics simulations. The wear and curving performances of the original and optimal wheel profiles were compared through dynamics simulation. The results show that the optimal profile can improve both the wear and dynamic curving performances of the tram vehicle.