Modelling stochastic excitations for a fast wear calculation methodology

Modelling and simulation of wheel profile evolution is a time-consuming process in which the variables that affect simulation cases are usually selected and tuned through an iterative process, in order to find the right setup for a specific case. In a previous work, a fast and reliable methodology for wear prediction was developed, systematic and applicable in general terms for any arbitrary network, vehicle fleet or operating conditions. Here variables that influence the running behaviour of the vehicle along a track were classified into two groups (deterministic or statistical), according to the kind of method to be used to consider them in the wear calculation process. The deterministic method was already defined in [1], while this paper focuses on the definition of the statistical method. This methodology is illustrated through the study of track irregularities: first, their actual effect on wear is analysed and then, their representation as stochastic variables in the developed methodology is presented. The whole methodology is based on quasi-static simulations instead of dynamic simulations for calculating the wheel-rail contact parameters, so a special effort is made in ensuring that, when these parameters are defined by a statistical method, the methodology for wear estimation continues being valid.
QC 20191105QC 20210504