Estimation of sand electrification influence on locomotive wheel/rail adhesion processes

Abstract

The article describes a method of increasing the adhesion of the wheel to the rail based on the preliminary electrification of the abrasive-air mixture before its feed into a contact. A simulation model of the movement of sand in the system “injecting nozzle of a sandbox - a rail” is presented. The effectiveness of the proposed method to improve adhesion is confirmed experimentally. The results of experiments carried out on a friction machine, which characterize the change in friction ratio depending on the temperature with different methods of sand supply, are presented. The reduction in the consumption of sand caused by its electrification and the supply of a rational amount of abrasive substance into the contact of the wheel with the rail is estimated.