Three-dimensional transient rolling contact analysis of similar elastic cylinders

Because most fatigue cracks in wheel and rail take place by rolling contact between wheel and rail in railway industry, it is critical to understand the rolling contact phenomena, especially for the three-dimensional situation. In this paper the steady-state and transient rolling contact problem of three-dimensional elastic bodies has been studied. The transient conditions were controlled by the applied relative slip. The variation of tangential traction and stick-slip region on rolling contact surface were obtained using the finite element method. The three-dimensional distribution of tangential traction and contact stresses on the contact surface are investigated. Results show that the distribution of tangential traction and contact stresses on the contact surface varies rapidly as a result of the variation of stick-slip region. The tangential traction is very close in form to Carter's distribution that contact region divided into stick and slip region. The contact stress at the leading edge is greater than at the trailing edge and the transient distance increases with small slip. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of 1CM11