SOME RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF FREIGHT CAR TRUCKS AND WORN WHEEL TREAD

Stability of flanged wheels on steel rails involves wheel tread and rail head contours. But after 150 years of railroading, the merits of various tread profiles are still being debated. To fix the importance of wheel profile on lateral stability of the freight car truck and riding qualities of the car, extensive tests were conducted by Southern Pacific on 89-foot flat cars used in container service. It was found that wheel contours have overriding influence on truck stability. While asymetrical wear patterns may develop from external influences, not all such uneven wear produces unstable operation. Hollow treads seem to stabilize a wheel set. Further investigations, assisted by computer analysis, are needed to understand the dynamic performance of car trucks as influenced by worn wheels. Brake shoe wear has an influence on wheel wear which can affect wheelset stability but this is not understood fully.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Direct enquiries to P.V. Garin. Prepared for the Joint ASME/IEEE Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, April 6-8, 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  Southern Pacific Transportation Company

  1 Market Street
  San Francisco, CA  United States  94105
• Authors:
  • Garin, P V
  • Cappel, K L
• Publication Date: 1976-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 31 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brake shoes; Dynamic tests; Hunting (Dynamics); Railroad cars; Railroad wheelsets; Ride quality; Train track dynamics; Trucks; Vehicle design; Wear; Wheels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Wheel contours; Wheel tread design
• Subject Areas: Design; Motor Carriers; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00131637
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 14 1976 12:00AM