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Wheel-rail elasto-plastic cyclic rolling-sliding-impact behaviour under thermo-mechanical loading

delete2026-06-04
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PRE
AI
X
Xiongfei Zhou
T
Teng Liu *
J
Jinneng Wang *
N
Nicholas Fantuzzi
L
Lin Jing *
DOI:10.1080/23248378.2026.2678243delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Friction heat will aggravate plastic deformation and performance degradation in wheel-rail system. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) thermo-mechanical coupled finite element (FE) model of wheel-rail cyclic rolling contact was developed, incorporating strain hardening, strain-rate strengthening and thermal softening effects. The evolution of temperature, stress and strain during wheel-rail rolling-sliding contact was examined, and influences of creepage, train speed and rail corrugation-induced impact were evaluated. The results indicate that contact temperature and residual stress/strain accumulate progressively after four wheel passages. For a corrugated rail under train speed of 400 km/h and 20% creepage, the surface temperature can reach 748.8°C, which may trigger phase transformation of rail material. Thermal effect will significantly enhance the residual stress/strain amplitudes and accelerate wheel/rail damage under higher creepage, and creepage exerts a more pronounced effect on wheel-rail thermo-mechanical response than train speed. These findings will support wheel-rail design and safety assessment in extreme conditions.
Keywords:
Thermo-mechanical coupling
wheel-rail cyclic rolling-sliding-impact
temperature field
strain field
explicit finite element

Journal

International Journal of Rail Transportation cover
International Journal of Rail Transportation
IF:
3.6
Papers:
1.3K
Citations:
1.2K

Organization

U
university of bologna
Scholars:
5.7K
Papers: 2.4K
Citations: 0
S
southwest jiaotong university
Scholars:
8.7K
Papers: 3.1K
Citations: 0