Analysis of the Impact of Frog Wear on the Wheel–Rail Dynamic Performance in Turnout Zones of Urban Rail Transit Lines
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: To investigate how severe wear at No. 12 turnout frogs in an urban rail transit line operating at speeds over 120 km/h on the dynamic performance of the vehicle, a vehicle–frog coupled dynamic model was established by employing the 2021 version of SIMPACK software. Profiles of No. 12 alloy steel frogs and metro wheel rims were measured to simulate wheel–rail interactions as the vehicle traverses the turnout, using both brand-new and worn frog conditions. The experimental results indicate that increased service life deepens frog wear, raises equivalent conicity, and intensifies wheel–rail forces. When a vehicle passes through the frog serviced for over 17 months at the speed of 120 km/h, the maximum derailment coefficient, lateral acceleration of the car body, and lateral and vertical wheel–rail forces increased by 0.14, 0.17 m/s2, 9.52 kN, and 105.76 kN, respectively. The maximum contact patch area grew by 35.73%, while peak contact pressure rose by 236 MPa. To prevent dynamic indicators from exceeding safety thresholds and ensure train operational safety, it is recommended that the frog maintenance cycle be limited to 12 to 16 months.
Source: Lubricants
Authors: Yanlei Li, Dongliang Zeng, Xiuqi Wei, Xiaoyu Hu, Kaiyun Wang
Institution: Southwest Jiaotong University
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Award: G3329505155
OpenAlex ID: W4412515257