SPARKING TO IMPROVE ADHESION

Development of the use of arc plasma as a means of improving adhesion between wheel and rail is discussed. For ordinary thin oil films energies of 50 J/cm2 or more are needed. The main factor involved in adhesion increase by sparking is the removal of the pollution from the rail surface, including moisture, and any effect on the actual surface itself. An example of the improvement in spark tests that can be achieved is shown in several slip risk probability graphs for a severely polluted rail. On unsparked rail the use of a tractive effect requiring 17 1/2 per cent adhesion would result in a 10 percent slip risk, but after the successive amounts of sparking used the same slip risk occurs at 26 1/2, 33 and 45 1/2 per cent respectively. The mobile test bed is an experimental device to measure the changes in adhesion; it is not a tool for the practical application of sparking in service.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1967-9-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 663-664
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 123

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesion; Cleaning; Dynamics; Equipment tests; Pollution control; Railroad rails; Technology; Tests; Traction; Train track dynamics; Wheel slip; Wheels
• Geographic Terms: Switzerland; United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Test equipment; Thermal cleaning; Traction tests
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040119
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 22 1976 12:00AM