Influence of rail corrugation on the vertical jumping behavior of high-speed vehicles at 400 km/h on ballastless tracks

This study investigates the impact of rail corrugation on rail jumping behavior in 400 km/h high-speed trains. A vertical vibration model of the high-speed vehicle-CRTS III slab ballastless track was created using multi-body dynamics and finite element analysis. Short-wave irregularities, based on the characteristics of rail corrugation, were simulated to model the wheel-jumping process caused by rail corrugation. Explores the impact of rail corrugation on wheel-rail vertical force, load reduction, and jumping behavior. The results show that rail corrugation induces track irregularities, causing unstable wheel-rail contact. As speed increases, the vertical vibration of the vehicle-rail system intensifies, especially above 400 km/h. When the wheel crosses the rail corrugation, it tends to jump, with repeated occurrences and small separation heights. At 400 km/h, deeper rail corrugation increases wheel-rail vertical force, jump height, frequency, and separation time ratio. The rail corrugation wavelength greatly affects wheel-rail separation, with varying wavelengths altering separation patterns. With a 0.04 mm wave depth, the sensitive wavelength is about 80 mm, and the critical wavelength is around 150 mm. Wave depth has a greater impact on wheel jump behavior than wavelength. These conclusions can guide safety control of rail corrugation on ballastless tracks for 400 km/h high-speed railways.