The calculation of the wheel–rail contact forces is one of the most difficult yet time-consuming processes in multibody system (MBS) simulations for a vehicle-track interaction system. The classical combination of the Hertzian model with the FASTSIM algorithm is the most widely used model in MBS code for railway application and the ‘exact’ solver CONTACT is seldom used due to its high computational cost. A trade-off solution between accuracy and computational efficiency is the simplified and approximate non-Hertzian approach. This paper attempts to compare the influence on MBS simulation for rail vehicle system dynamics of the varied combinations of the classical contact models (i.e. Hertz model and FASTSIM), well-known simplified non-Hertzian model (Kik–Piotrowski model) recently developed improved simplified non-Hertzian models i.e. Extended Kik–Piotrowski and Kalker Book of Tables for Non-Hertzian contact (KBTNH), and the CONTACT algorithm. The results show that all non-Hertzian approaches deviate from the classical Hertzian solutions in both local contact and global dynamics and the KBTNH model provides better agreement with CONTACT than the FASTSIM algorithm for non-elliptic contact conditions considered in this study. A detailed analysis of the causes and influences of the difference due to varied contact models is presented.

轮轨接触力的计算是车辆-轨道交互系统多体系统 (MBS) 仿真中最困难但最耗时的过程之一。Hertzian 模型与 FASTSIM 算法的经典组合是铁路应用 MBS 代码中使用最广泛的模型，而“精确”求解器 CONTACT 由于其高计算成本而很少使用。精度和计算效率之间的权衡解决方案是简化和近似的非赫兹方法。本文试图比较经典接触模型（即 Hertz 模型和 FASTSIM）、最近开发的著名简化非 Hertzian 模型（Kik-Piotrowski 模型）的各种组合对轨道车辆系统动力学的 MBS 仿真的影响。非赫兹模型，即 用于非赫兹接触 (KBTNH) 和 CONTACT 算法的扩展 Kik–Piotrowski 和 Kalker 表书。结果表明，对于本研究中考虑的非椭圆接触条件，所有非赫兹方法都偏离了经典赫兹解决方案，并且与 FASTSIM 算法相比，KBTNH 模型与 CONTACT 的一致性更好。详细分析了不同接触模型造成差异的原因和影响。结果表明，对于本研究中考虑的非椭圆接触条件，所有非赫兹方法都偏离了经典赫兹解决方案，并且与 FASTSIM 算法相比，KBTNH 模型与 CONTACT 的一致性更好。详细分析了不同接触模型造成差异的原因和影响。结果表明，对于本研究中考虑的非椭圆接触条件，所有非赫兹方法都偏离了经典赫兹解决方案，并且与 FASTSIM 算法相比，KBTNH 模型与 CONTACT 的一致性更好。详细分析了不同接触模型造成差异的原因和影响。