Explicit finite element simulations of dynamic low adhesion behavior between wheel and rail in the presence of high-frequency vibrations

Purpose Dynamic low adhesion (DLA) has become an urgent problem for the high-speed wheel-rail system because of continuous decrease of adhesion redundancy in the past decades. This article aims to provide a simulation method to reveal the mechanism of DLA under high-frequency vibrations. Design/methodology/approach A transient wheel-rail rolling contact model is developed for a typical Chinese high-speed railway system using the explicit finite element (FE) method. Instantaneous adhesion exploitation levels are studied in the time domain, for which driving cases over corrugated rails are taken as an example. A speed up to 500 km/h is considered together with different traction coefficients and corrugation dimensions. DLA is expected when the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level reaches 1.0, that is adhesion saturates and full sliding contact occurs. Findings The instantaneous adhesion exploitation level can be very high in the presence of corrugation, even at low traction coefficients. DLA is found to occur as great vertical unloading takes place and causes a significant increase of creepage. An approach is further developed to determine the critical depth of corrugation over which DLA occurs. Originality/value This study employs the transient wheel-rail rolling contact model to predict the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level under high-frequency vibrations. The presented results reveal a mechanism of DLA being beneficial to guidelines for future railway practice.