Speakers and Topics: Heavy Haul Seminars Sessions Abstract

Topic: Damage in the Rail-Wheel System – an Overview

Presenter: Richard Stock

Company: voestalpine Schienen GmbH

Abstract:

With the increase in traffic and axle loads in recent years, rail damage remains a serious problem for many railway / infrastructure operators. Dependent on the loading conditions (heavy haul, mixed traffic, light light rail) rail damage can occur in different forms. Not only the rails but also the wheels are affected by the same or very similar defects. This presentation deals with the most common defects like wear, corrugation, plastic deformation, head checks, squats, spalling, shelling, Belgrospies etc… showing typical forms of appearance and explaining the conditions leading to the formation of these defects. Differences between North American heavy haul conditions and European mixed and light-rail traffic conditions will be outlined and available formation theories for these defects will be discussed.

Another focus will be set to prevention and mitigation of these defects. Several approaches will be presented:

• Rail grade development of the past years has aimed at providing solutions against RCF and wear. The different microstructure of the available and experimental rail steels directly influences the resistance against damage.
• Friction Management (gauge face lubrication and top of rail friction modifier application) increases steering capabilities of vehicles and reduces the stresses transmitted between wheel and rail slowing the formation of damage.
• Grinding on the one hand can be used to remove already present rail damage. On the other hand it is possible to adjust rail and wheel profiles by grinding to produce low stress contact conditions and extend the time to damage formation.

The effectiveness of each approach as well as the combination of all approaches with regard to damage prevention will be outlined and discussed.