During the last decade, a novel methodology for wheel wear simulation has been developed in Sweden. The practical objective of this simulation procedure is to provide an integratedengineering tool to support rail vehicle design with respect to wheel wear performance and detailed understanding of wheel-rail interaction. The tool is integrated in a vehicle dynamicssimulation environment.The wear calculation is based on a set of dynamic simulations, representing the vehicle, the network, and the operating conditions. The wheel profile evolution is simulated in an iterativeprocess by adding the contribution from each simulation case and updating the profile geometry.The method is being validated against measurements by selected pilot applications. To strengthen the confidence in simulation results the scope of application should be as wide aspossible in terms of vehicle classes. The purpose of this thesis work has been to try to extend the scope of validation of this method into the light rail area, simulating the light rail vehicleA32 operating in Stockholm commuter service on the line Tvärbanan.An exhaustive study of the wear theory and previous work on wear prediction has been necessary to understand the wear prediction method proposed by KTH. The dynamicbehaviour of rail vehicles has also been deeply studied in order to understand the factors affecting wear in the wheel-rail contact.The vehicle model has been validated against previous studies of this vehicle. Furthermore new elements have been included in the model in order to better simulate the real conditionsof the vehicle.Numerous tests have been carried out in order to calibrate the wear tool and find the settings which better match the real conditions of the vehicle.Wheel and rail wear as well as profile evolution measurements were available before this work and they are compared with those results obtained from the simulations carried out.The simulated wear at the tread and flange parts of the wheel match quite well the measurements. However, the results are not so good for the middle part, since themeasurements show quite evenly distributed wear along the profile while the results from simulations show higher difference between extremes and middle part. More tests would benecessary to obtain an optimal solution.

This work deals with construction of an experimental measuring stand. This stand will be used for research focused on wheel flange lubrication improvement. The construction is based on wheel flange lubrication system Tribotec OK-02. First part treats of rail vehicle dynamics and wheel flange lubrication problematics, second part describes construction itself.

This diploma thesis deals with the experimental study of the influence of operating conditions on the tribological aspects of the wheel flange and rail gauge contact. The wheel flange contact occurs when the vehicle moves on a curve track and it leads to severe up to catastrophic wear regime. For effective reduction of wear is important to apply a suitable amount of lubricant at appropriate intervals into the contact. The issue in this work comprehensively studies using of three laboratory apparatus and six methods that are theoretically and experimentally compared. Assessed are friction, wear, distribution and film thickness of lubricants for different contact conditions. The resulted amount of lubricant and interval of its application eliminates development of seizure at low consumption of lubricant. The understanding of mechanisms that occur in the wheel-rail contact not only helps to reduce operating costs and improved to energy efficiency of movement of vehicle on a track, but it is the basis for safe, reliable and ecological operation of rail transport.

The diploma thesis deals with construction design and practical realisation of experimental apparatus for investigation of wheel flange track vehicle lubrication. Experimental apparatus in full-scale uses optical interferometry for investigation of lubrication behaviour in wheel flange contact. It is an innovative approach which has not been used for such experiments so far. The aim of the following measurement with this apparatus is to determine the minimal amount of ecological lubrication in wheel flange contact under certain conditions when there is no lubrication film interruption. The apparatus enables to measure real rail wear. This work contains the apparatus description for the study of wheel flange lubrication, wheel flange contact specifications, the description of its influence on wear and acoustic emission, and a detailed description of the experimental apparatus.