Parallel computing Rail Heat Transfer Simulation for track measured temperature data

A field test program was conducted measuring the rail head, web and foot temperatures at a number of different track locations with varying traction, braking and grade topography. The field measured data was used to inform the development of a rail heat transfer model to capture the heating effect of the rail based on the passage of the train. To simulate this system, a parallel computing simulation technique was required to ensure run-time constraints were met. The paper demonstrates that the proposed model is able to capture the effects measured by the field temperature data and the necessity of executing the simulation using a parallel computing architecture.