Angle of attack

{
  "id": "MLC-T-IND-000201",
  "term": "Angle of attack",
  "field": "Industrial and trades",
  "definition": "The angle between the plane of a railway wheel and the tangent to the rail at the point of contact, specifically concerning the wheel flange's interaction with the gauge face of the rail. A non-zero angle indicates that the wheelset is not perfectly aligned with the track, causing the flange to press against the rail and generating lateral forces. High positive angles of attack, often found on sharp curves, are a primary cause of flange wear, rail-head abrasion, and high-frequency squeal noise.",
  "subject": "Rail equipment",
  "references": [
    "Angle of Attack and Wheel-Rail Wear (Federal Railroad Administration)"
  ],
  "translations": {
    "de": "Anstellwinkel",
    "es": "ángulo de ataque",
    "fr": "angle d'attaque"
  },
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/industrial/angle-of-attack/"
}