Numerical investigation of the influence of the creep curve on the wheel–rail contact damage in high-speed railway turnouts

This paper studies the wheel–rail creep curve characteristics and dynamic behaviour in high-speed railway turnouts by considering different wheel–rail surfaces and simulating them using a dynamic functional vehicle–track model with different friction and Kalker’s weight coefficients. The dynamic performance and damage coefficient of CRH2 locomotive passing through the 18# turnout at a speed of 80 km/h are discussed under different friction and Kalker’s weight coefficients. The results show that the Kalker’s weight and friction coefficients have less influence on the wheel–rail dynamics and wear performance at low values. Vehicle operating stability is the highest when the high-speed wheels pass through the switching area and the Kalker’s weight coefficient is 0.1. In this case, both fatigue damage and wear are low. When the Kalker’s weight coefficient at the crossing area is 1 and the friction coefficient is 0.5, the dynamic wheel–rail performance is good, with reduced wear and good wheel–rail contact. When the Kalker’s weight coefficient is 0.1, the maximum wear number of the closure panel is closer to the lower limit of the second region of the damage function, and both fatigue damage and wear are very low. The results are useful for accurately describing the wheel–rail contact relationship in high-speed turnouts and for finding the most appropriate creep curve to decrease wear and to prolong the turnout service life.