FRICTION-CREEP AND WEAR STUDIES FOR STEEL WHEEL AND RAIL

Some basic aspects of the friction-creep phenomena in the rolling of a steel wheel on a rail are studied with a qualitative analysis of stress, strain, adhesion and creep in the contact zone and the stresses on the remaining surface of the rail and the wheel. Some pertinent literature on the subject is briefly discussed. A friction-creep test facility was modified and improved to give more accurate friction-creep data. The electrical control and drive system was changed to give accurate speed of rotation and to dynamically brake the two wheels separately. Friction-creep data was taken with braking of both the small and the large wheels. The data obtained with small wheel braking showed higher coefficients of friction than that of the large wheel braking. Some preliminary reasons for the difference are qualitatively discussed. A preliminary study of the nature and progress of wear during rolling was done with two microscopes, installed for each wheel. With the help of a microswitch and flash gun, some qualitative observations were made on one spot on the wheel. Attempts are being made to study the nature and rate of wear quantitatively.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C., and General Motors Corp., La Grange, Ill. Electro-Motive Div.
• Corporate Authors:

  Illinois Institute of Technology

  Department of Mechanics
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616

  Association of American Railroads

  50 F Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001-1564

  General Motors Corporation

  Warren, MI  United States  48090

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Karamchandani, K C
  • Kumar, S
  • Sciammarella, C A
  • Seth, B
  • Nailescu, L
• Publication Date: 1975-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 114 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesion; Braking performance; Coefficient of friction; Creep; Creep properties; Live loads; Locomotives; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Rolling contact; Rolling friction; Size; Steel; Test facilities; Traction; Train track dynamics; Wear; Wheels
• Old TRIS Terms: Roadwheels; Tractive effort; Wheel creep; Wheel size
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00153977
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: IIT-TRANS-75-1 Intrm Rpt., FRA/ORD-76-272
• Contract Numbers: DOT-OS-40103
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 17 1977 12:00AM