Wheel-rail interface

The interaction between wheel and rail, or rather the wheelset and the track, forms the core of the rail vehicle technology.  In the wheel-rail contact, very high forces have to be transmitted through an area the size of a thumbnail in order to carry, guide, drive and brake the vehicle.

Our research activities are aimed at optimizing the profile shapes of both contact bodies with the goal of good track guidance with minimal wear and a lower stress on wheel and rail.