Investigating the Impact of Foreign Objects on Railway Switch Control: Numerical Simulations and Field Measurements

Railway switches enhance the flexibility of railway networks, yet they frequently contribute to operational disruptions.Disruptions often arise from foreign objects trapped between stock rail and switch rail.This cause delays resulting in elevated costs.This research assesses the influence of such foreign objects on the control of the switch rails, potentially preventing the switch from locking or causing gauge narrowing, thus increasing the risks of derailment.To this end, a finite element model of a UIC60-760-1:15 switch has been developed and validated against field measurements.The findings reveal that friction between the switch rail and slide chairs plays a crucial role in control of the switch rail in the presence of a foreign object.Hence, it becomes necessary to carry out maintenance on switches regularly and design systems to prevent interference of trapped foreign objects in operation.