Wheel/rail contact model for rail vehicle dynamics

An advanced method using progressive concept of correspondence is applied to create new wheel/rail model based on the virtual penetration theory. The geometry and mechanism of contact are solved simultaneously because of the independency in a defined correspondence. This model takes the penetrated profiles of wheel and rail and also associated creeps as its inputs, and produces driving contact forces as its outputs. The advantage of model is that there is no need to pre-tabulate rigid contact situation. This method allows calculating flexible, non-elliptical, multiple contact patches during integration of the model.