Measuring the effects that flat spots have on the dynamic wheel load and on rail pad forces

摘要

Diagrams recorded over time of the forces acting between wheels and rails (dynamic wheel load) and those acting through the rail pads constitute a valuable source of information about trains, wheels and the loads that are exerted on the permanent way. A newly developed system for measuring the forces acting at the rail support outputs data that permits a comparison of these two forces and helps us achieve a deeper understanding of the behaviour of the wheel/rail system.