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STUDIES OF THE PRESSURE AS AFFECTED BY THE AREA OF CONTACT BETWEEN WHEEL AND RAIL. EFFECT OF WHEEL SIZE

The following is a progress report on one phase of this investigation, namely, rolling-load tests in which wheels of various diameters are rolled to and fro on a short length of rail for the purpose of determining the number of cycles of load application required to produce failure. The results of the rolling-load tests to fracture show considerable "scatter" and no very marked difference between the results of tests under a 50-in. wheel and those from tests under a 33-inch wheel. The vertical wear on rail 757C (33-in. wheel) was 0.046 in. at failure, whereas the wear on rail 757C1 (50-in. wheel) at 580,900 cycles was 0.041 in. At failure, 750,100 cycles, the wear on rail 757C1 was 0.0425 in. A second type of test being tried to ascertain the effect of wheel size on the rail is to measure the depth of work hardening in the rail head. The rail head appeared to have been work hardened down to a depth of about 0.45 in. by the 33-in. wheel with a maximum hardness of 296 at a depth of 0.15 in. A test on a section from the same rail rolled with the 50-in. wheel appears to have been work hardened down to a depth of 0.20 in. with a maximum hardness of 269 at a depth of 0.10 in.

  • Corporate Authors:

    American Railway Engineering Association

    59 East Van Buren Street
    Chicago, IL  United States  60605
  • Authors:
    • Alleman, N J
  • Publication Date: 1944

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 3-8
  • Serial:
    • AREA BULLETIN
    • Volume: 45
    • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00033314
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM