A catalogue of mechanisms associated with wheel / rail contact

The UIC has initiated a Joint Research Project to produce a worldwide perspective on current wheel/rail interaction. This includes recommending optimal design, monitoring and maintenance practices for a spectrum of operating conditions, identifying gaps in the current knowledge base, and recommending or initiating projects to fill these gaps. This document is strictly an overview of the subject of wheel/rail interaction. It is not intended as a definitive authority on any single specialist field. Thus the basic concepts of contact mechanics and vehicle dynamics are discussed, often on an elementary level. The objective is to lead the reader into a basic understanding of the current information wheel/rail interaction. A catalogue of mechanisms associated with wheel/rail contact has been produced to list and describe currently known mechanisms and to link these mechanisms directly to the defects described in Atlas of Railway wheel and Rail Defects due to wheel/rail interaction. Thus, there will be cross-referencing between these documents. The intent of both documents is to promote a better understanding of the mechanisms of wheel/rail contact within railways and aid railways to better manage the interaction between wheel and rail and improve maintenance and safety.