The finite element method (FEM)-based wheel-rail rolling contact model with a fresh wheel flat was built to investigate the wheel-rail impact responses, where a comprehensive dynamic explicit algorithm was employed. Two basic dynamic effects (i.e., inertia effect and strain-rate effect) and temperature effect during the wheel-rail sliding process were considered. Influences of train speed, flat length and axle load on the wheel-rail impact responses were discussed in terms of wheel-rail impact

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... orce, von Mises equivalent stress, equivalent plastic strain and XY shear stress. Simulation results demonstrate that the FEM-based wheel-rail rolling contact model can well describe the strong nonlinearities in geometry, contact and material. The strain rate effect contributes to elevate the maximum von Mises equivalent stress and restrain the plastic deformation. The initial thermal stress can decrease the maximum von Mises equivalent stresses and maximum XY shear stresses, but can aggravate the plastic deformation. Furthermore, the flat-induced wheel-rail impact force, von Mises equivalent stress, equivalent plastic strain and XY shear stress are revealed to be sensitive to train speed, flat length and axle load.