CONSIDERATIONS ON RAIL CORRUGATION

The paper consists of three parts. 1. Description of a One-Dimensional Corrugated Surface The surface is modelled as a periodic, differentiable function of the distance traversed. Three criteria of corrugation growth are developed. 2. The Frequency Response of Wheel and Rail A linear relationship is assumed between the Fourier transforms of the displacement difference of wheel and rail, and the contact force. The constant of proportionality is the frequency response which is shown to have three important properties. The actual frequency response is approximated by the sum of three functions having these properties. 3. Numerical Results Wear is taken proportional to frictional work, which is calculated by a contact mechanical code (CONTACT or FASTSIM). The surface is taken sinusoidal; 11 wave lengths have been investigated, varying from 10 to 200 mm. It is shown that a quasisteady rolling contact code (FASTSIM) may be used to obstain the results, which comes down to the statement that the used frequency response is an excellent selection mechanism of corrugation ridges which have a length almost-equal-to 50 mm, at a rolling velocity of 40 m/sec.