Experimental study on the effect of liquid media and sanding particles on wheel-rail adhesion behavior under track ramp conditions

Xinxin Song, Shaogang Shen, Shuyue Zhang, Ziheng Yue, Jun Guo, Haohao Ding, Qiyue Liu, Wenjian Wang, Tribology Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System, Southwest Jiaotong University, Mechanical Industry Key Laboratory of Damage Mechanism and Protection Technology for High-speed Friction Pairs, Southwest Jiaotong University

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit

Published online on June 17, 2026

Abstract

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, Ahead of Print.
As high-speed railways expand into steep mountainous regions, the wheel-rail system must not only address low adhesion caused by liquid media (water and oil) in an open environment but also ensure traction and braking capability on steep gradients. ...