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THE EFFECT OF THE RATIO OF WHEEL DIAMETER TO WHEEL LOAD ON EXTENT OF RAIL DAMAGE

This is a report of progress on studies of pressure as affected by the area of contact between wheel and rail. One phase of this investigation involves the conduct of rolling load tests of rails subjected to wheels of various diameters and loads. To summarize, a depth hardness survey on a 112-lb rail removed from service after approximately 12,000,000 tons of traffic shows the maximum hardness to be at a depth of approximately 0.04 in. at a distance of 1-3/6 in. from the center of the head toward the gage side, the maximum hardness being Rockwell C 34.6. Tests on a full section 131-lb rail under a 75,000-lb load after 1,333,000 cycles (100,000,000 tons) of testing are as follows: For the 33 in. wheel--a hardness of Rc 15 on the tread and a maximum of Rc 32 at a depth of 0.15 in.; for the 50 in. wheel--a hardness on the tread of Rc 23 and a maximum hardness of Rc 27.4 at a depth of 0.10 in. Using "mutilated" head specimens and a 50-in. wheel it was found that a 58,000-lb load could be carried for 100,000,000 tons, but that a 63,000-lb load would break down the rail tread after 15-45 million tons.

  • Corporate Authors:

    American Railway Engineering Association

    59 East Van Buren Street
    Chicago, IL  United States  60605
  • Authors:
    • Alleman, N J
  • Publication Date: 1945-6

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 725-741
  • Serial:
    • AREA BULLETIN
    • Volume: 47
    • Issue Number: 453
    • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00033306
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM