Digitalisation of condition monitoring data as input for fatigue evaluation of wheelsets

Paper in proceedings, 2019

A field test in which a train was run at different speeds over an impact load detector is described. One of the wheelsets in the train had severe wheel tread damage. The results are presented and the relation between the speed of the train and the magnitude of the impact loads registered for the two wheels is discussed. The defects on the wheel tread have been studied and scanned by means of 3D laser and their characteristics are described. An in-house software for the simulation of dynamic wheel–rail interaction has been improved by including the possibility to account for the cross-coupling of the two wheels within the same wheelset. The contact algorithm and a possible implementation of discrete defects in the in-house software are discussed. The in-house software gives, among other possible outputs, the maximum dynamic loads occurring at both wheels of the wheelset. To show an example of the utility of such information, fatigue analyses for the axle are performed for the different running conditions used during the field tests. The impact loads measured on the day of the tests are given as input to the fatigue analyses.