Effects of Rail Cant on Wheel-Rail Contact Forces in Slab Tracks

Rail cant parameter, applied in order to attain suitable movement of wheel on rail, directly influences in dynamic interaction of track-vehicle. In this paper, the effect of geometrical parameters on the behaviour of dynamic interaction of wheel-rail is being investigated through a parametric study. A complex dynamic analyses using ADAMS/RAIL are being applied for one section of actual executed line and the records of geometrical parameters have been registered for this purpose. The necessary measurements have been recorded by KRAB measuring machine, safety levels and serviceability have been controlled based on these data. The results of the analysis show that non-conformity of the rail seat slope relative to its desired value, strictly influences on the coefficient of derailment (about 18 percent), horizontal dynamic forces (about 17 percent), and results in severe rail wear (about 18 percent). However, vertical dynamic forces and safety index are not of any concern form the derailment point of view, since it is within the acceptable range of the standards. The comparison of analyses' results in various operational speeds shows a remarkable impact on the vertical dynamic forces (up to 13 percent) and derailment index (up to 8 percent).