Rail Acceleration Induced by Train Pass-by—Field Measurements and Validation of a Simulation Model

Paper in proceeding, 2022

The applicable frequency range of an existing code for simulation of vertical dynamic vehicle–track interaction is extended by implementation of a more advanced track model that includes the rail modelled by solid three-dimensional finite elements. In this paper, a previous validation of the software with respect to magnitudes of dynamic wheel–rail contact forces is supplemented by a comparison of measured and simulated rail accelerations at train pass-by. To this end, data collected as part of an extensive field measurement campaign related to the adaptation of the software CNOSSOS-EU to conditions on the Swedish railway infrastructure is used. In particular, the dataset includes measurements of track receptance, rail roughness, wheel out-of-roundness and pass-by rail acceleration. The results calculated when using a simplified two-dof mass-spring-damper wheelset model and a track model accounting for the rail by Rayleigh–Timoshenko beam elements show good agreement with those obtained for more advanced wheelset and track models deploying three-dimensional solid finite elements.