BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

Appendix 4
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Appendix 4

Minimum wheel support width and/or minimum

flange tip width
The investigation of both the minimum tread contact width and the minimum flange tip
width required to support the wheel can be undertaken using the same methodology
because both cases can be approximated to a Hertzian contact pairing, in which a line
contact can be assumed between a cylinder and a plane.
This is generally a good approximation because the curvature of the contact between
wheel and rail in the transverse direction is effectively flat when compared to the curvature
of the wheel in the longitudinal axis of the rails.
The criterion for the contact stress is the Hertzian compression with its maximum value
pmax. This value is determined by the material characteristics as well as of the wheel
diameter, the wheel load and the contact width, i.e. the minimum wheel tread contact width
or the minimum width of the flange tip, such that the stress through the Hertzian pressure
does not exceed the limits of the materials of the wheel and rail.
For the line contact between a cylinder and a flat plane the Hertzian pressure is calculated
from

p max =

FN E
d bmin 1 2

where

Elastic modulus of the material

Poissons Ratio for the material

pmax Hertzian Pressure

FN

Maximum wheel load

Wheel diameter

bmin Minimum contact width

BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

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For steel, for which the Modulus of Elasticity ( E ) = 2.1 105 N/mm2 and the Poissons ratio
( v ) = 0.3, the smallest contact width bmin (in mm) is dependent upon the wheel diameter d
(in mm), the maximum wheel load FN (in N) and the Hertzian compression pmax (in N/mm2),
the material dependent limit plim which may not be exceeded, and is given by

bmin =

73456 FN
p lim d
2

The determination of the material specific limit for plim results from assumptions for the
stress condition, that from the reference stress the corresponding (shear stress?) can be
determined from hypotheses for the deformation strain. Applying the reference stress to
the Tresca / St. Venant hypotheses, the resulting maximum shear stress for the material
VSmax is given by
VSmax = 0.6 plim
This reference stress must, in order to avoid large and cumulative permanent plastic
deformations, lie beneath the elastic limit for the material Rp0.2.
VSmax < 0.6 Rp0.2
from which
plim < 1.67 Rp0.2
From that, the minimum wheel support width and/or the smallest flange tip width can be
calculated in relation to
the elastic limit of the material strength with the Hertzian contact stress (pressure) plim
the wheel load FN, and
the wheel diameter d

BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

Appendix 4
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The minimum wheel support width to be prepared bmin, that is to be allowed for especially
for in switch installations in narrow curves, and/or the minimal flange tip width required for
running in flat groove rails is significant. Examples of the resulting minimum width in
relation to wheel diameter and wheel load for various qualities of rail materials with varying
strengths are shown in diagrams 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3. The characteristic values for the wheel
material are used to calculate the minimum wheel support width if the rail material has the
greater strength. Examples for two wheel materials of differing strength are shown in
diagrams 4.4 and 4.5.
The calculation quoted here is for a simplified observation based approach to the
calculation of the minimum wheel support width and/or the minimum width of the flange tip
in relation to the various values for material strength, wheel diameter and wheel load.
More detailed evaluation, for example with Finite-element analysis methods, that model
the actual situation more exactly, or by proof under actual operating conditions can allow
for deviation from the values that can be determined from the calculation method
recommended above.

BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

Appendix 4
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Diagram 4.1:

Calculated minimum wheel support width for an S700 grade rail having a yield strength of 460 MPa

BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

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Diagram 4.2:

Calculated minimum wheel support width for an S800 grade rail having a yield strength of 520 MPa

BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

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Diagram 4.3:

Calculated minimum wheel support width for an S900A grade rail having a yield strength of 580 MPa

BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

Appendix 4
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Diagram 4.4:

Calculated minimum wheel support width for a tyre steel of yield strength 416 MPa

BOStrab Guidance Regulations (Technishe Regeln Spurfhrung - TR Sp)

Appendix 4
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Diagram 4.5:

Calculated minimum wheel support width for a tyre steel of yield strength 580 MPa