Residual stresses in high-speed wheel/rail system − Shakedown and corrugations

The paper is devoted to the dynamics of train/track and wheel/rail interaction which after succesive passing of wheels forms a plastic layer on the rail running surface. The initial residual stress distribution undergoes a change. The longitudinal component of residual stresses changes from tensile to the compressive one. During long time of operation the stress distribution along the rail is uniform (stationary). There exists a limit of the compressive longitudinal component of residual stresses which depends on the hardening parameter of the rail material. The dynamic overloading (normal and tangential) together with greater then critical residual stress forms valleys of corrugation and nonuniform changes in residual stress distribution. The result of measurements of the corrugations and residual stresses are presented.