A numerical model for predicting tramway rail damaging [Un modello numerico per la previsione del danneggiamento di rotaie tranviarie]

This paper illustrates a numerical approach for predicting damaging phenomena of tramway rails. Starting from contact force profiles obtained by means of a validated multi-body model of the tramway vehicle, some "ratcheting" effect analyses have been carried out. Despite damaging analysis is applied to a particular case (a simple curve with a radius of 50 metres), the approach is quite general and can be used to evaluate, in terms of impact on the line, the performances of present and future tramway vehicles.