Keywords: instrumented turnout, wheel/rail contact, crossing geometry optimisation.

The paper presents an optimisation procedure for improvement of crossing performance by adjusting the crossing (including the wing rail) geometry. The improvement of the crossing performance is achieved by reducing the normal contact pressure and wear index, while shifting the location of the wheel impact (fatigue area) along the crossing. By shifting the fatigue area, the life of the crossing can be prolonged.

To demonstrate the proposed procedure, the geometry of a crossing (crossing angle 1:15) has been optimised. The effect of two typical wheel profiles used on the considered crossing is taken in to account during the optimisation. The robustness of the obtained geometries has been verified using the numerical simulations with track geometrical irregularities.

Using the optimisation procedure, two improved geometries of the crossing have been obtained. In both designs, the normal contact pressure was reduced as compared to the reference design, while the fatigue area in the second crossing was shifted further from the tip point of the crossing, as compared to the first crossing. Importantly, the second crossing geometry can be obtained from the first crossing simply by grinding.

To implement the new crossing geometry, a new measurement device has been proposed. The device can be used for the assessment of wear to the existing crossings, and during adjusting/restoration of the crossing geometry.

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