Prediction of Rail Profile Wear with the Increase of Vehicle Speed

A method to simulate rolling contact wear in a rail surface was developed using the finite elements method and numerical analysis. A two-dimensional finite elements model was used in order to reduce the calculation time and boundary conditions to prevent excessive deformation of a wheel and a rail were applied. A numerical analysis of rail wear at rolling contact was predicted using the Archards equation. In addition, the characteristics of rail wear with the increasing speed of vehicle were analyzed. Results show that there was not a large difference in the depths of wear on the rail head with increasing vehicle speed, but the wear on the rail gauge corner increased with increasing vehicle speed.