COMPOSITION BRAKE-BLOCKS. EFFECTS OF ICE AND SNOW

The effect of winter conditions on the braking distance proved to be considerable. Using the results of all the tests undertaken in winter with composition brake-shoes it was calculated that the braking distances in winter were on average 36% longer than in summer. The great amount of humidity due to the melting of the snow and the ice probably contributed considerably to the increase in the braking distances. With one type of composition brake-shoes, the braking distances were, on the whole, shorter in the winter tests than in the summer tests. This might have been due to the effect of the temperature on the coefficient of friction with these types of brake-shoes. The braking distances obtained with the low-friction brake-shoes were in certain instances more than 100% longer than those obtained during the summer tests, because of the effect of the snow and ice adhering to the blocks. Since only a small number of preliminary-braking tests were carried out it is not possible to deduce from the results any valid conclusions concerning the effect of preliminary braking.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  Office of Research and Experiments
  Utrecht,   Netherlands 
• Publication Date: 1970-4

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures;
• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brake shoes; Braking performance; Coefficient of friction; Field tests; Ice; Low temperature; Technology; Temperature
• Geographic Terms: Austria; Finland; Sweden
• Old TRIS Terms: Question b64
• Subject Areas: Materials; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040405
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: B64/RP 7/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 22 1976 12:00AM