Thermal model and temperature field in rail grinding process based on a moving heat source

A three-dimensional thermal model that the grinding wheels are simplified as a moving heat source in the rail grinding process was established and used to explore the effect of grinding parameters on the temperature field of ground rail. The results indicate that the highest temperature of ground rail increases with an increase in the grinding power. The increase of grinding surface width and moving velocity causes a fall of ground rail temperature. It should be noted that the temperature of ground rail would continue to rise when the first car with 12 grinding wheels passes through the rail surface. However, the temperature does not increase when the second car passes through. Compared with distributing on the same grinding surfaces, two grinding wheels distributing on two adjacent grinding surfaces would lower grinding rail temperature. The results are beneficial to improve the reasonable arrangement of grinding wheels in the rail grinding process. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.