Abstract
The modelling of rail vehicle dynamics and train-track interaction has been the object of intensive research over the last 40 years at least, leading to the development of advanced mathematical models and tools for numerical simulation. These models however in most cases consider the case of a vehicle running in tangent track, neglecting the effects related with curving, whereas actually a number of train-track interaction phenomena are specific to curve negotiation, e.g. the generation of squeal noise and some types of rail head corru-gation.
It is the aim of this paper to define a model for the interaction of a complete vehicle with flexible wheelsets and a flexible track in a curve. The model is general, but thanks to the assumption of small motion of the bodies with respect to a trajectory coordinate system, an efficient formulation is obtained, reducing simulation times with respect to other exist-ing approaches and thus making the model attractive for practical use e.g. in the design stage of a new vehicle or track system. In the paper, the use of the model is exemplified by analysing the effect of a wheelflat for different combinations of vehicle speed, curve radius and cant deficiency.
