BRAKE BLOCK SHOE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

The final report consists of a summary, in which the different partial problems are shown, as they exist at the beginning of 1972. In addition to a brief outline of the work carried out previously, the report contains a more detailed description of a number of more recent studies (comparative bench tests, effect of composite brake block shoes on adhesion, and chemical and physical alterations to the friction surfaces of brake block shoes made of composite materials, and the wheels). In addition to the considerable information obtained concerning brake block shoes, the positive advantages include the use--although, of course, to a provisionally limited extent--of brake block shoes made of composite materials, ensuring advantages from the point of view of profitability and the braking technique. Finally, there is also shown, as one result, a proposal concerning a provisional specification for approval, which takes into account the existing stage of developments. The negative side includes the defects and disadvantages which still affect composite brake block shoes, and which must be taken into account, as they are capable of restricting the latters' use and profitability. Amongst the problems which are still in suspense, the most important are those concerning adhesion between wheel and rail, metal inclusions, and the effect of atmospheric conditions (particularly in winter), and, they are, therefore, problems which affect braking efficiency. The Committee leaves it to braking experts on the different railways to decide themselves, on the basis of the information obtained and placed at their disposal, whether to make use of composite brake block shoes.

• 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: 1972-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 169 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brake shoes; Brakes; Composite materials; Technology
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Old TRIS Terms: Braking systems
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00053874
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: B64/RP10
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1976 12:00AM