The influences of wheel/rail profiles on vehicle curving and lateral stability are discussed in this article through the evaluation of the current North American freight railways wheel standard AAR-1B profile. The incompatibility of the AAR-1B wheel with current worn rail shapes has prompted the investigation. An attempt at modifying the AAR-1B profile has been made with the intent of improving vehicle-curving performance by providing more conformal contact between wheel and rail. The investigation indicated that the current wear trends and maintenance practices have resulted in worn wheel and rail profiles that are considerably different from their new shapes, which can cause inconsistent vehicle performance because of the different contact features of the new and worn wheel/rail. The solution to maintain wheel/rail shapes during their service life is being further investigated.
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Huimin Wu (2006) studied this question.
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