Advanced friction measurements and their application for locomotive traction: Track damage studies

Modelling and validation of locomotive dynamic behaviour involve very complex multi-disciplinary engineering problems which require coverage of all uncertainties and non-linearities presented in the system. Key nonlinearities in this complex task are the adhesion and friction processes at the wheel-rail interface. In the case of locomotive dynamic behaviour and track damage studies, this issue is more critical because it requires the introduction of friction-creep curves in the locomotive models. Two approaches are recommended to be used for this purpose: actual locomotive field tests or the application of results delivered with experimental tribometers that allow producing creep-friction curves. The first approach involves high costs in order to replicate all possible operational scenarios and to deliver the required data. Given that this approach can only be used for the specific type of locomotive which has been tested, it may be more reasonable to develop a methodology with the application of experimental tribometers. This paper describes a methodology that is focused on the development of testing scenarios for friction measurements performed with an experimental tribometer with the aim of answering very important questions related to the further application of delivered friction measurement data in multibody simulations required for track damage studies under locomotive traction. The implementation of a case study for such a methodology is included in this paper.