Reconditioning criteria of wheel profiles based on the rolling radius difference

Wheel rail rolling contact plays a key role for the stability of wagons on straight track and their capacity to negotiate through curves. After a certain period of operation the profiles of wheel and rail become worn, losing original designed form. In the general case the right and left wheel radii may not remain identical which gives a rolling radius difference. At some point in time, reconditioning work is arranged to return the wheel to its original profile. This paper explores the effects of the rolling radius difference on the performance of the complete wagon system and uses the results to be as a reference for determining a maintenance criterion for wheel reconditioning.