ADHESION RESEARCH

The use of an arc plasma generator (apg) to improve wheel to rail adhesion is examined in a letter to the editor. It is pointed out that rail contaminants affecting adhesion adversely fall into two groups: oil and water films and emulsions not bonded to the rail, and metallic soaps produced by chemical reaction between fatty acids and steel which are integral with the rail surface. Both contaminants must be treated. The gross films can be removed mechanically, but the chemical structure of the soaps must be broken down by heating to about 30 deg C. The second task is most demanding and forms a basis for performance predictions. The maximum power requirement occurs at high speed, say 240 km/h, when both traction and "steering" rely upon enhanced adhesion. A graph shows the variation of power with the penetration depth of the 300 deg C isotherm in a steel rail. Power decreases with plasma length, but the power intensity increase outside the attainable range. The variation of power with length (and consequently with speed) is strongley non-linear. The authors of this letter believe that each fast train must carry an a.p.g. module.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Authors:
  • Kelly, J C
  • Scott, B F
• Publication Date: 1968-1-5

Media Info

• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: p. 7
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 124
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesion; Cleaning; Dynamics; High speed rail; Railroad rails; Railroad trains; Technology; Train track dynamics; Wheels
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Thermal cleaning
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037793
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 15 1976 12:00AM