RAIL CORRUGATION ON NORTH-AMERICAN TRANSIT SYSTEMS

This paper describes work which has greatly improved our understanding of the processes by which rail corrugation typically develops on Nort h American Transit systems. Several types of corrugation were identifi ed from observations and measurements in the field. A new mechanism fo r corrugation formation is proposed for the most common type of corrug ation observed and a mathematical model has accordingly been developed which combines both law frequency and high frequency behaviour of the vehicle/track system The mathematical model itself plus results from it and from measurements are discussed here. Novel recommendations far corrugation mitigation are made.