Effect of drive and transmission system on wheel polygonal wear of an heavy-haul locomotive

Wheel polygonization intensifies the dynamic interaction between wheel and rail and reduces the service life of the locomotive and the rail system. The dynamic performance of the drive and transmission system (DATS) directly affects the wheel-rail interaction and further affects the wheel polygonization. In this study, a rigid-flexible locomotive coupled dynamics model of an HX locomotive is established. The DATS and the flexible characteristics of the wheelset are both considered. The calculation model of the wheel polygonal wear is established based on the local tangential contact distribution algorithm FaStrip and the USFD wear function. Effects of the DATS on the wheel-rail dynamic response and wheel polygonal wear are investigated. Evolution of the wear depth is studied under the different running speeds and the wheel profile initial states. The results indicate that the torsional vibration response of the DATS plays a significant role in promoting the development of the wheel polygonization. The more serious wear damage of the wheelset on the non-gear side (NGS) is both reflected in the actual service process and the numerically calculated results, which validates the established dynamics model and calculation method. This study could provide helpful reference for further understanding on the wheel polygonization phenomenon.