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Lubricants
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Tribology in Railway Engineering
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Tribology in Railway Engineering

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 449

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhen Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Section of Railway Engineering, Department of Engineering Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands
Interests: modelling of train–track interaction; finite element method; friction; railway structural dynamics; vibration and noise; detection of track degradation; railway condition monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zili Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Section of Railway Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Interests: rail vehicle dynamics; contact mechanics; track dynamics; train–track interaction; condition monitoring; rolling contact fatigue
Prof. Dr. Roger Lewis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
Interests: general tribology; wear modelling and mapping; wheel/rail contact tribology; skin friction and deformation; engine tribology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Tribology in Railway Engineering” focuses on the study of friction, wear, and lubrication in railway systems. As these systems are subjected to intense operational demands, understanding and optimizing tribological interactions is vital for enhancing their performance, safety, and longevity. This issue covers a broad range of topics, including the mechanics and dynamics of wheel–rail contact, where managing friction and wear is essential for reducing maintenance costs and improving ride comfort. The advancements discussed in this issue include new surface treatments and lubrication strategies designed to mitigate wear and extend the life of railway components, particularly in high-speed and heavy-haul contexts. Contributions also examine the tribological challenges in braking systems, rail vehicle bearings, and other crucial components, where innovations in materials, surface treatments, and lubrication technologies are driving improvements in efficiency and durability. Additionally, this issue addresses the environmental and economic implications of tribological practices, such as reducing noise, minimizing energy consumption, and enhancing the overall system sustainability. By presenting cutting-edge research and practical solutions, this Special Issue aims to advance the understanding and application of tribology in railway engineering, ultimately contributing to more reliable, efficient, and sustainable rail transportation systems.

Dr. Zhen Yang
Prof. Dr. Zili Li
Prof. Dr. Roger Lewis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Keywords

  • tribology
  • railway engineering
  • wheel–rail interaction
  • friction
  • wear
  • lubrication
  • surface treatments
  • braking systems
  • bearings
  • high-speed railways

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

33 pages, 7667 KiB  
Article
Development of a Non-Uniform Heat Source Model for Accurate Prediction of Wheel Tread Temperature on Long Downhill Ramps
by Jinyu Zhang, Jingxian Ding and Jianyong Zuo
Lubricants 2025, 13(6), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13060235 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 102
Abstract
Accurately simulating the thermal behavior of wheel–brake shoe friction on long downhill ramps is challenging due to the complexity of modeling appropriate heat source models. This study investigates heat generation during the frictional braking process of freight train wheels and brake shoes under [...] Read more.
Accurately simulating the thermal behavior of wheel–brake shoe friction on long downhill ramps is challenging due to the complexity of modeling appropriate heat source models. This study investigates heat generation during the frictional braking process of freight train wheels and brake shoes under long-slope conditions. Four heat source models—constant, modified Gaussian, sinusoidal, and parabolic distributions—were developed based on energy conservation principles and validated through experimental data. A thermomechanical coupled finite element model was established, incorporating a moving heat source to analyze the effects of different models on wheel tread temperature distribution and its evolution over time. The results show that all four models effectively simulate frictional heat generation, with computed temperatures, deviating by only 6.0–8.2% from experimental measurements, confirming their accuracy and reliability. Among the models, the modified Gaussian distribution heat source, with its significantly higher peak local heat flux (2.82 times that of the constant model) and rapid attenuation, offers the most precise simulation of the non-uniform temperature distribution in the contact region. This leads to a 40% increase in the temperature gradient variation rate and effectively reproduces the “hot spot” effect. The new non-uniform heat source model accurately captures local temperature dynamics and predicts frictional heat transfer and thermal damage trends. The modified Gaussian distribution model outperforms others in simulating local temperature peaks, offering support for optimizing braking system models and improving thermal damage prediction. Future research will refine this model by incorporating factors like material wear, environmental conditions, and dynamic contact characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology in Railway Engineering)
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