The metro network in Naples, Italy, is characterized by slopes up to 5.5% and tight curves with radius down to 208 m. Full traction vehicles are employed to reach the desired performances in terms of acceleration also on the steepest sections. The combination of high traction effort, line characteristics, vehicle suspension properties and operation conditions leads to extensive rail corrugation phenomena on the low rail in almost all the curves of the network. This corrugation is responsible for high noise levels, failures of vehicle components and, in some sections, of high groundborne noise and vibrations. One of these curves was selected to investigate corrugation growth. This paper reports on a study based on extensive rail corrugation measurements held on a long, polycentric curve with a slope continuously varying from 0 to 5.2%. Special grinding techniques and the application of friction modifiers were evaluated to possibly increase maintenance intervals, also in view of tests on head hardened rails.
Rail corrugation growth in a metro curve / A.Bracciali. - ELETTRONICO. - (2006), pp. 1-10. (Intervento presentato al convegno 7th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems tenutosi a Brisbane, Australia).
Rail corrugation growth in a metro curve
BRACCIALI, ANDREA
2006
Abstract
The metro network in Naples, Italy, is characterized by slopes up to 5.5% and tight curves with radius down to 208 m. Full traction vehicles are employed to reach the desired performances in terms of acceleration also on the steepest sections. The combination of high traction effort, line characteristics, vehicle suspension properties and operation conditions leads to extensive rail corrugation phenomena on the low rail in almost all the curves of the network. This corrugation is responsible for high noise levels, failures of vehicle components and, in some sections, of high groundborne noise and vibrations. One of these curves was selected to investigate corrugation growth. This paper reports on a study based on extensive rail corrugation measurements held on a long, polycentric curve with a slope continuously varying from 0 to 5.2%. Special grinding techniques and the application of friction modifiers were evaluated to possibly increase maintenance intervals, also in view of tests on head hardened rails.I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.