Dynamic Wheel-Rail Forces on Mismatched Joints with Ramps

The discontinuity between rail ends at a joint creates dynamic wheel-rail forces (i.e. high impact forces and wheel unloading) that can result in a range of problems including wear, deterioration, and early failure of the track structure, its components, and passing equipment. Under certain circumstances, railroads are introducing ramps (by grinding or welding) to reduce the mismatch discontinuity and produce a smoother transition in order to mitigate these dynamic wheel-rail forces. In this paper, analyses are conducted to estimate dynamic wheel-rail forces at joints having ramps and mismatches of various sizes using simplified models along with detailed NUCARS models for comparative purposes. Parametric studies are conducted to examine the effects of ramp length, direction of travel, mismatch height, and equipment speed (track class). Plots of primary shock-response-spectrum (maximum impact force on the ramp), residual shock-response-spectrum (maximum impact force after the ramp), and minimum wheel force (i.e. wheel unloading) are developed to provide guidelines on ramp length (H-rule) in order to control the maximum force by track class.

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/12284
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Marquis, Brian
  • Greif, Robert
• Conference:
  • 2016 Joint Rail Conference (JRC2016)
  • Location: Columbia South Carolina, United States
  • Date: 2016-4-12 to 2016-4-15
• Publication Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 7p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Dynamic loads; Parametric analysis; Rail joints; Railroad tracks; Ramps; Rolling contact
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01610905
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: JRC2016-5734
• Files: NTL, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 8 2016 9:43AM