Structural Evaluation of Variable Gauge Railway

In the Eurasian railway network, a different gauge length is used across several countries. A railroad variable gauge allows railway vehicles in rail transport to travel across a gauge break caused by two railway networks with differing track gauges. The variable gauge railway consists of the bogie system to change the length of the wheel shaft and the gauge changing railroad track. Thus, it is important to assess the structural performance of the variable gauge system. In this study, as a performance improvement subject of the variable gauge bogie and railroad, a structural analysis using dynamic finite element calculation was performed to evaluate the reliability and life cycle of the release system and the variable gauge railway. First, the contact pressure and structural stress of the release disk and the release rail were calculated, which provided the wear condition and fatigue life prediction of variable gauge components. Second, a structural analysis of the gauge stabilization rail after the gauge release was executed. The maximum principal stress was evaluated to guarantee the required service life of the stabilization rail section. For the operational safety of the variable gauge system, the operation conditions and maintenance requirements of the variable gauge railway were proposed.

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