By Radovan Sarunac and Peter Klauser • October 2007 Part 1 of this article examined the effects of track geometry, wheel/rail profiles, friction, and wheel flange angle on wheel-climb derailment potential. Part 2 examines the effects of wheel unloading due to air spring imbalance on derailment potential. The secondary suspension of …
By Radovan Sarunac and Peter Klauser • July, 2007 Low-speed wheel-climb derailments are certainly not a new phenomenon. Investigations into the likely causes have long since identified the primary factors. Sometimes, however, old lessons need to be relearned. While all aspects of wheel/rail interaction, which includes wheel/rail profiles, friction, track geometry, …
By B. McGuire, R. Sarunac, R. B. Wiley and P. Klauser • April, 2007 Part 1 of this article examined ways in which the use of vehicle performance detectors is steadily growing on North American freight and high-speed passenger railways. With the installation of a Wayside Wheel/Rail Load Detector on …
By B. McGuire, R. Sarunac, R. B. Wiley and P. Klauser • April, 2007 The use of vehicle performance detectors is steadily growing on North American freight and high-speed passenger railways. With the installation of a Wayside Wheel/Rail Load Detector (WRLD) on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the trend …
by Peter Klauser • October 2005 Cant deficiency has a significant effect on curving performance of vehicles in both passenger and freight service. The forces due to centrifugal acceleration through a curve must ultimately be reacted at the wheel/rail interface. Curve lateral acceleration and the compensating effect of track superelevation can …