Research on the Dynamic Cause of Rail Corrugation in the Braking Section of High-Speed Railways Under Multiple Vibration Inducements

Purpose The dynamic cause of rail corrugation in the braking section under multiple vibration inducements is studied by combining the theories of self-excited and feedback vibrations in this article. Methods Aiming at the typical rail corrugation in the braking section of high-speed railways, the power/trailer wheel-rail-brake system and the corrugated irregularity are established. Field and numerical analyses are applied to explore the dynamic cause of rail corrugation under multiple vibration inducements. Results Results show that the dynamic cause of rail corrugation is comprehensively affected by the self-excited and feedback vibrations of the system. Conclusion The friction-induced vibration of the wheel-rail subsystem caused by the coupling of the stick-slip friction is the fundamental genesis of rail corrugation, whereas the rolling-slip self-excited vibration of the braking subsystem exacerbates the rail corrugation in the braking section. For the brake subsystem, the wheel-mounted disc is more likely to intensify the unsteady vibration of the system than the axle-mounted disc. Besides, the increase of the friction coefficient in the braking system aggravates the unsteady vibration of the wheel-rail-brake system. Moreover, as the wave hollow of corrugated irregularity increases, the feedback vibration of the corrugated irregularity induces the aggravation of corrugation. The aggravating trend tends to be linear with the variation of the wave hollow of corrugated wear.