Tribological Challenges in Wheel-Rail Contact

Dear Colleagues,

The wheel–rail interface represents a critical tribological system in railway engineering, in which mechanical energy transfer, dynamic interactions, and material degradation occur under highly complex and variable operating conditions. The tribological behavior at this interface, characterized by adhesion, friction, wear, plastic deformation, and rolling contact fatigue, directly governs the safety, efficiency, and durability of railway operations. High contact stresses, combined with dynamic loading and environmental effects, give rise to coupled mechanical and material phenomena that influence the service life of rail and its operational reliability.

While significant progress in wheel–rail tribology has been made via advancements in contact mechanics, materials science, and lubrication technologies, the increasing demands of modern rail transport systems have introduced novel challenges. High-speed rail systems, heavy-haul freight operations, and mixed-traffic networks are associated with severe wear conditions, accelerated surface damage, and energy dissipation issues. Furthermore, surface cracks induced by rolling contact fatigue, suboptimal lubrication performance, and the need for predictive health monitoring call for innovative tribological solutions that enhance wheel–rail performance and mitigate failure risks.

This Special Issue, entitled “Tribological Challenges in Wheel-Rail Contact”, aims to address recent challenges and advances in the field of wheel–rail tribology. It provides a platform for disseminating state-of-the-art research concerning the mechanisms, materials, and engineering strategies used to enhance the tribological performance of wheel–rail systems. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• Contact mechanics and stress distribution in wheel–rail systems under dynamic and environmental loading conditions;
• Mechanisms of friction, wear, and surface damage evolution, including rolling contact fatigue and crack propagation;
• Advanced materials, coatings, and surface treatments for enhanced tribological performance and wear resistance;
• Lubrication theories, technologies, and their impact on wheel-rail interface longevity and energy efficiency;
• Multi-scale numerical and experimental methods for analyzing wheel–rail tribology and surface degradation;
• Energy efficiency, noise control, and vibration mitigation through tribological design and optimization;
• Condition monitoring, fault diagnosis, and predictive maintenance strategies for wheel–rail systems.

The Special Issue, entitled “Tribological Challenges in Wheel-Rail Contact”, offers a valuable opportunity for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to present original findings and explore advanced solutions related to wheel–rail tribology. Contributions that integrate theoretical analysis, experimental investigations, numerical modelling, and practical applications are particularly welcome. By addressing critical tribological challenges and fostering innovative approaches, this collection aims to advance knowledge in the field and promote safer, more efficient, and sustainable railway operations. We also welcome the submission of high-quality submissions that provide novel insights into the field of railway engineering.

Dr. Ruichen Wang
Dr. Zhiwei Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• wheel–rail contact mechanics
• friction, rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and wear analysis
• digital twin for wheel–rail systems
• lubrication and surface treatments
• condition monitoring and predictive maintenance