A hypothesis on a wavelength fixing mechanism of rail corrugation

The mechanism of rail corrugation is analysed by a mathematical model in wh ich a rail is represented as an infinite beam and a bogie as two point mass es. The contact forces and the rate of increase in corrugation amplitude ar e calculated. The result shows that high growing rates occur in some veloci ty-wavelength regions, which nearly agree with conditions for generation of real line corrugation. It is considered that, in a rail excited at two poi nts, the deformation wave is the result of the interference between those f rom the two points, and the wave is completely cancelled at the two excitin g points under some conditions. This interference is considered as a fundam ental mechanism of corrugation.