Applying Two Simplified Ellipse-Based Tangential Models to Wheel-Rail Contact Using Three Alternative Nonelliptic Adaptation Approaches: A Comparative Study

In the modeling of railway vehicle-track dynamics and wheel-rail damage, simplified tangential contact models based on ellipse assumption are usually used due to strict limitation of computational cost. Since most wheel-rail contact cases appear to be nonelliptic shapes, a fast and accurate tangential model for nonelliptic contact case is in demand. In this paper, two ellipse-based simplified tangential models (i.e., FASTSIM and FaStrip) using three alternative nonelliptic adaptation approaches, together with Kalker’s NORM algorithm, are applied to wheel-rail rolling contact cases. It aims at finding the best approach for dealing with nonelliptic rolling contact. Compared to previous studies, the nonelliptic normal contact solution in the present work is accurately solved rather than simplification. Therefore, it can avoid tangential modeling evaluation affected by inaccurate normal contact solution. By comparing with Kalker’s CONTACT code, it shows both FASTSIM-based and FaStrip-based models can provide accurate global creep force. With regard to local rolling contact solution, only the accuracy of FaStrip-based models is satisfactory. Moreover, Ayasse-Chollet’s local ellipse approach appears to be the best choice for nonelliptic adaptation.