STRESS MEASUREMENTS IN RAILROAD WHEELS VIA THE BARKHAUSEN EFFECT

The feasibility of utilizing the Barkhausen Effect in ferromagnetic steels as a nondestructive means for ascertaining residual stresses in railroad wheels was investigated. Railroad wheels are generally manufactured with compressive stress distributions in the rim to impede the propagation of fissures or thermal cracks caused by brake applications. In service, these compressive stresses may gradually become tensile, thus increasing the potential for wheel failure. Speciments examined using the Barkhausen noise measurement technique included four new wheels and two used wheels. Stress measurements form this nondestructive technique were compared with stress values determined by a dissection method of strain relaxation. Qualitative consistency in these data were observed, although testing of a larger data base will be required to determine the utility of the Barkhausen noise measurement technique for identifying those wheels which are potentially hazardous because of tensile stress buildup.

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10769
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by the FRA/U.S. DOT, through the Transportation Systems Center.
• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Research Institute

  6220 Culebra Road, P.O. Drawer 28510
  San Antonio, TX  United States  78228-0510

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142
• Authors:
  • King, R R
  • Barton, J R
  • Perry, W D
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 86 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electromagnetic devices; Failure; Inspection; Nondestructive tests; Residual stress; Stresses; Thermal stresses; Tire treads; Wheel rims; Wheels
• Old TRIS Terms: Magnetic inspection; Wheel failure; Wheel rim stresses; Wheel thermal stresses; Wheel tread stresses
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158197
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA-ORD-77/11 Final Rpt., DOTTSC-FRA-76-32
• Contract Numbers: DOT-TSC-713
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 2003 12:00AM