A general and robust 3D finite element dynamics framework for railway vehicle–bridge interaction with nonlinear wheel–rail contact modeling

Abstract A key challenge in 3D finite element models of coupled railway vehicle–bridge dynamics is the rigorous definition of kinematic constraints and the development of an efficient, robust solution. This paper presents a novel approach that can be implemented in general finite element software using constraint equations tailored to wheel–rail contact behavior, essential for analyzing lateral vehicle–bridge interactions. The method employs absolute coordinates to describe the motion of nodes defining the track position and orientation for each wheelset, without assuming infinitesimal displacements or rotations. This general formulation enables realistic simulations of extreme scenarios involving large lateral movements caused by strong winds or earthquakes. The proposed wheel–rail contact model is first validated against published results, and a 3D numerical example demonstrates the method’s performance and capabilities.