Abstract
The wheelrail contact problem plays an important role in the simulation methods used to solve railway
dynamics problems. As a consequence, many different mathematical models have been developed to
calculate wheelrail contact forces.However, most of them tackle this problem purely from a theoretical
point of view and need to be experimentally validated. Such validation could also reveal the influence
of certain parameters not taken into account in the mathematical developments. This paper presents
the steps followed in building a scaled test-bench to experimentally characterise the wheelrail contact
problem. The results of the longitudinal contact force as a function of the longitudinal creepage are
obtained and the divergences with respect to Kalkers simplified theory are analysed. The influence
of lateral creepage, angular velocity and certain contaminants such as cutting fluid or high positive
friction modifier is also discussed.
