Dynamic wheel/rail interactions for high-speed trains on a ballasted track

Measurements of the wheel/rail contact forces are important for evaluating the dynamic behaviour and train running safety. Static and dynamic wheel loads at higher speeds are the key parameters for designing sustainable and reliable railway systems. In this study, the dynamic wheel/rail interactions of high-speed trains are evaluated. Actual static and dynamic field measurements were made for better understanding the case for speeds over 200 km/h. The field measurements were carried out on the ballasted track of a high-speed train line for vertical impact load. For the field studies, pre-calibrated wheel impact load detectors were placed on sleepers under the rail foot to analyse dynamic vertical average and vertical peak forces of high-speed trains under service conditions. The field data measurements were also compared and investigated with the theoretical results calculated using the numerical equations suggested in the literature. Finally, field data were used as an input parameter for the developed finite element model (FEM) to analyse the stress distribution along the rail profile.