Deliberating the Significance of Heavy Spots on Rail Wheels: Optimizing Balancing and Extending Operational Life

Abstract

The paper is aimed at optimizing the rail wheel balancing and extending operational life of rail wheel through production process controls. The work is novel and original as no previous studies have intensively focused on this aspect of rail wheel. Using NX and MATLAB software for model generation, this paper visualizes key scenarios where imbalances occur and evaluates their implications. The main finding of this study is that due to eccentricity during the fixing of the rail wheel on the boring machine the imbalance is introduced. This study investigates the influence of light and heavy spots on rail wheels, quantifies the need for external counter balancing mass under various scenarios, and explores strategies to mitigate the resultant unbalances and improvement of overall operational life of wheel. The concept for putting the contents presented in this paper in the practice may seem to be critical at the first glance, yet when considered juristically, it implementable. The application of the presented concept, theory and process control is expected to contribute to the increased rail wheel life, improved life of associated parts like bearings and springs, and overall improvement of passenger comfort.