Transient Analysis of Railway Curve Squeal Using the Finite Element Method
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/ijame.22.3.2025.19.0976Keywords:
Railway curve squeal, Stick-slip phenomenon, Finite element method, Twin-disk system, Friction coefficient, Nodal lateral displacementAbstract
Railway curve squealing refers to the repeated emission of a high-pitched sound caused by the interaction between train wheels and curved rail sections. This high-frequency noise creates significant discomfort for both passengers and nearby residents. The phenomenon arises from frictional interaction between the wheel and rail, governed by a yaw angle that generates lateral forces. These forces result from increased sliding velocity in the contact area due to the angular motion of the wheel, leading to dynamic instability. To investigate this, a finite element model of a twin-disk system was developed, and a time-domain nonlinear transient analysis was performed. The lateral nodal displacements of the wheel within the contact patch were examined during its interaction with the rail, assuming a constant coefficient of friction. The displacement nodes exhibited an oscillatory response characteristic of stick–slip motion, which continuously excites the wheel–rail system. These oscillations indicate that the wheel is the primary source of squeal and match the measured squeal frequency of 2400 Hz, thereby validating the twin-disk model. During curving, lateral creepage occurs at the contact interface, inducing self-excited vibrations that manifest as squeal.
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