Numerical simulation of wheel-rail rolling contact fatigue considering yaw angle and interfacial conditions

• A novel wheel-rail rolling contact model incorporating yaw angle and interfacial conditions (dry/wet) is proposed, integrating NORM and ECF algorithms for accurate normal and tangential contact solutions. • Increasing yaw angle elevates creepage, sliding area, creep force, and contact temperature, leading to higher fatigue parameter (FP) and reduced rolling contact fatigue life under both dry and wet conditions. • The fatigue life decay rate is slower under wet conditions compared to dry, highlighting the protective effect of water as a third-body layer. • The proposed framework enables more realistic fatigue life prediction for railway wheelsets, aiding in maintenance scheduling and safety assessment.