Simulation Analysis of Influence of Wheel Tread on Development of Outer Rail Side Wear of Small Radius Curve in Metro

A vehicle-track coupling dynamics analysis model is established to calculate the wheel-rail dynamic interaction. Wheel-rail rolling contact analysis is conducted based on the non-elliptic contact model. Improved Archard material wear model is used to calculate the material wear, to analyze the development of the rail side wear of the three metro wheel treads under the metro type-A and type-B vehicles. The analysis results show that the rate of increase of side wear in different periods of rail service is different; the development of side rail wear of metro outer rail can be roughly divided into three stages: sideless wear, side wear smooth growth and side wear speed increasing. Once the side wear occurs, the side wear strength of the same kind of metro wheel tread develops at similar speed. For the type-B vehicles, lathing the wheel into type DIN5573 will help to delay the development of the side rail wear.