Study on the influence of lateral and local rail deformation on the train–track interaction dynamics

This paper studies the influence of lateral and local rail deformation on the train–track interaction dynamics in high-speed railways. While the traditional method ignores the curvature of a laterally and locally deformed rail and treats it as a straight rail with an additional displacement, this paper considers the laterally and locally deformed rail as a curved rail and models the train–track interaction with lateral and local rail deformation using a reduced beam model with necessary changes to fit the curved rail. Thus, the presented model is more realistic and can accurately and efficiently analyses the influence of lateral and local rail deformation on the train–track interaction dynamics. After calculation of dynamic responses of train–track interaction with lateral and local rail deformation with and without rail irregularities, the influence of the amplitude of lateral and local rail deformation and vehicle velocity on transient derailment criteria is analysed, and the derailment boundary is finally obtained. It is found that the traditional method underestimates dynamic responses of train–track interaction with lateral and local rail deformation and overestimates the derailment boundary of the vehicle, and the risk of derailment and rail damage increases with the increasing amplitude of the lateral and local rail deformation.