Multiple wheelsets-rail dynamic interaction and its influence on rail corrugation: A perspective of elastic wave propagation

• Investigates elastic wave propagation in the rail and wheelset-rail dynamic interaction. • This investigation advances from single wheelset-rail to multiple wheelsets-rail systems. • Further deepens into the mutual influence of two wheelsets-rail interaction within a bogie. • Maps multiple wheelsets-rail dynamic interaction characteristics onto rail corrugation. • Field-measured corrugation data confirm the effectiveness and significance of this study. This study addresses the dynamic interaction between multiple wheelsets and the rail from the perspective of elastic wave propagation and connects it to rail corrugation. A numerical analysis model based on vehicle-track coupled dynamics theory is established and applied to three progressively advancing scenarios from simple to complex. Upon this, the systematic analyses are conducted, beginning with the characteristics of the elastic wave propagation and the corresponding dynamic interaction in the single wheelset-rail system, extending to those in the multiple wheelsets-rail system, and ultimately delving into the mutual influence of the wheelset-rail dynamic interaction when both wheelsets of the bogie are concurrently subjected to external excitation. To support these modeling and analyses, the influence of fastener constraints on the dispersion relation of elastic waves in the rail is clarified, and the wavenumber-frequency curve is obtained accordingly. Furthermore, the long-term evolution simulation maps the dynamic interaction characteristics of the multiple wheelsets-rail system onto the rail corrugation. Through the analytical framework and findings of this study, the understanding of multiple wheelsets-rail dynamic interaction and its influence on the formation of rail corrugation is enhanced, providing important theoretical support for addressing related rail corrugation issues.