A dynamic model for the vertical interaction of the rail track and wagon system

With the advent of high-speed trains, there is a renewed interest in the rail track-vehicle interaction studies. As part of an ongoing investigation of the track system optimisation and fatigue of the track components, a dynamic model is developed to examine the vertical interaction of the rail track and the wagon system. Wagon with four wheelsets representing two bogies is modelled as a 10 degree of freedom subsystem, the track is modelled as a four-layer subsystem and the two subsystems are coupled together via the non-linear Hertz contact mechanism. The current model is validated using several field test data and other numerical models reported in the literature by other researchers. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.