FRACTURE RESISTANCE OF RAILROAD WHEELS
The effects of manufacturing method, chemical composition, heat treatment, temperature, and loading rate on the plane strain fracture toughness KIC of railroad wheels have been determined. Carbon content of the wheels is shown to be the principal factor which controls their toughness. One hundred wheels which fractured in service are analyzed by means of fracture mechanics procedures. The locations, configurations, and size of thermal and plate cracks which initiated brittle fracture are reviewed, and estimates made of the stress levels which resulted in failure. Estimates have been made of the minimum size of crack which could result in the failure of wheels under adverse service conditions. These are discussed with respect to the minimum size of defect which can be reliably detected by NDT. Included in the report are state-of-the-art reviews on thermal and plate cracking and on the stresses developed in railroad wheels.
- Record URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- Sponsored by FRA.
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Corporate Authors:
Boeing Company
P.O. Box 3707, Commercial Airplane Group
Seattle, WA United States 98124Federal Railroad Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Carter, C S
- Caton, R G
- Publication Date: 1974-9
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 216 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Cracking; Defects; Failure; Fracture mechanics; Metallurgy; Thermal stresses; Wheels
- Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation
- Old TRIS Terms: Wheel defects; Wheel failure; Wheel metallurgy; Wheel thermal stresses
- Subject Areas: Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00126978
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: FRA-ORD&D-75-12 Intrm Rpt.
- Contract Numbers: DOT-TSC-617
- Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Nov 5 1976 12:00AM