WHEEL/RAIL ADHESION - THE INFLUENCE OF RAILHEAD DEBRIS

Evidence is given that rust is a major source of railhead debris, being found to possess similar surface characteristics. Particles are observed to spread on the wear band in wet weather and to be worn off in the dry. Laboratory experiments show that debris has little effect on friction except when mixed with an oil. Friction is then reduced depending on the quantity of oil and the surface area of the particles. A considerable proportion of oil is needed to reduce friction to its lowest value, and railhead debris normally bears so little it helps maintain high adhesion in dry conditions. Water can also substantially reduce friction on debris covered surfaces. This aspect is to be described in a later publication but, in this paper, a correlation is demonstrated between friction and humidity in which the friction coefficient is shown to be a simple function of the amount of water absorbed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00431648
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier Science S.A.

  P.O. Box 564
  CH-1001 Lausanne 1,   Switzerland 
• Authors:
  • Beagley, T M
  • McEwen, I J
  • Pritchard, C
• Publication Date: 1975-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 141-152
• Serial:
  • Wear
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Elsevier Science S.A.
  • ISSN: 0043-1648

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesion; Corrosion; Friction; Maintenance of way; Rusting
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rust
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096655
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Wear
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 24 1975 12:00AM