It is essential to understand the vehicle/track interaction excited by a vehicle negotiating sharp curves when analyzing vehicle stability and material integrity such as wheel flange and rail gauge face wears. The angle of attack and lateral force interacting between wheel and rail have been particularly focused on as parameters governing vehicle/track interaction. In this study, we carried out track-site measurements in sharp curves at a test track and in operational sections of a revenue railway line to investigate the effect of lubrication on vehicle/track interaction. Also, we evaluated the adequacy of vehicle dynamics simulation model by comparing with track-site measurement to estimate the effect of lubrication on vehicle/track interaction under various vehicle and track conditions. As a result, the lateral force and angle of attack estimated by the simulation model were agreed upon very much by those measured at track site. This paper describes the detailed setup and results of track-site measurements and the possibility of vehicle dynamics simulation model to investigate the effect of lubrication on vehicle/track interaction.

Copyright (c) 2006 Railway Technical Research Institute