Work

Localized Resonance Mechanism of Rail Corrugation and Active Suppression via Wheel–Rail Self-Grinding on Urban Express Line with Different Tracks

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The occurrence of short-wave corrugation with wavelengths of 32–44 mm on curved sections of urban express railway lines is particularly pronounced, yet the underlying initiation mechanisms have remained insufficiently understood. Furthermore, conventional mitigation strategies—including the installation of rail dampers and passive grinding—entail substantial maintenance expenditures, thereby hindering their large-scale application. To elucidate the initiation mechanisms of rail corrugation and to formulate effective control measures, the characteristic corrugation parameters under various track structure configurations across an entire alignment were first measured and systematically analyzed. Dynamic interaction models between vehicles and three distinct track typologies were subsequently developed, together with a comprehensive analytical framework for corrugation evolution. The wheel–rail dynamic response characteristics and corrugation growth rates corresponding to each track type were examined, and the wheel–rail coupled vibration modes that exacerbate corrugation propagation in urban express lines were identified. The instantaneous wear behavior of the rail under differing creep regimes was also investigated, leading to the proposal of a novel self-mitigating approach for rail corrugation. The results demonstrate that the excitation frequency of rail corrugation is predominantly confined to the 600–700 Hz range, exhibiting a fixed-frequency characteristic that remains invariant with respect to curve radius, track structure type, and operational speed. An interesting finding is that, although the intrinsic vibration properties of different track structures diverge significantly, the third-order bending resonance of the rail segment situated between bogie wheels is largely unaffected by track-borne vibrations and manifests as a localized wheel–rail resonance within the vehicle–track coupled system. This particular resonance markedly accelerates corrugation development and is identified as the critical governing factor for corrugation initiation in urban express lines, regardless of the underlying track configuration. Furthermore, rail instantaneous wear displays a substantial phase shift under varying creep conditions, with the wear profiles under creep saturation (full sliding) and low creep (rolling–sliding) exhibiting a distinct anti-phase relationship. This insight underpins a novel self-wear suppression strategy: by intentionally mixing rolling–sliding and full-sliding operational regimes, destructive interference between the out-of-phase wear contributions is achieved, resulting in a considerably attenuated corrugation growth rate compared with exclusive rolling–sliding operation. This methodology thus offers a promising and fundamentally new alternative for the long-term management of rail corrugation through intrinsic wheel–rail interaction.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app16104672

Authors: Jie Zhong, Jing Tong, Chunqiang Shao, Chaozhi Ma, Peng Zhou

Institutions: China Academy of Railway Sciences, China University of Mining and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Railway Engineering and Dynamics

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896