Between the wheels of the train and the rails, there exist variable and triaxial stresses that include the vertical stresses, longitudinal stresses, and lateral stresses generated by the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral forces exerted by the train wheels on the rails. In addition to these stresses, there are residual in-plane and longitudinal stresses within the rails generated during their production and longitudinal stresses generated by ambient temperatures on continuously welded rails. The simultaneous presence of many types of stresses on rails with varying magnitudes that can be quite high generates unusual mechanical demands from the rails as opposed to other types of structural elements of civil engineering, which require special cross-sectional designs and metallurgical constituency. The type and magnitude of stresses along a railway route vary with the locations along the route with higher stresses along the acceleration and deceleration zones within and near the stations, horizontal curves, slopes, stiffness transition zones and turnouts. This study provides analytical insight into the magnitudes of vertical, longitudinal, and lateral forces that can occur at the wheel and rail interface and the analytical means to estimate these forces. The study later elaborates on the stresses that these forces can generate on the railhead and highlights the need for high-strength rail steel along railway routes and special rail profiles along curves.

Tribology; contact stresses; rail metallurgy