Wear and damage behaviours of wheel and rail materials: Effects of friction modifier and environmental temperature

journal article in Web of Science

en

Low temperature conditions can aggravate the wear and fatigue damage of the wheel and the rail materials. Friction modifier (FM) is used to control the adhesion and alleviate the wear and damage. However, the wear and damage behaviours of wheel and rail with the application of FM under low temperature have not been revealed. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effect of FM on the wear and the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage of the wheel and the rail under low temperature conditions. Tests were conducted on a rolling-sliding wear testing apparatus with the samples enclosed in a temperature-controlled chamber. The results indicated that the effect of FM on the wear and the RCF damage of the wheel and the rail was influenced by the tem-perature significantly. Compared with the dry condition, the wear rate of the wheel decreased obviously at all temperature conditions when using FM. Meanwhile, the RCF damage of the wheel was relatively slight. Besides, there was no significant difference among the RCF damage of the wheel at different temperatures both under the dry and the FM conditions. At room temperature, the application of FM could alleviate the RCF damage of the rail. Under the low temperature condition, the performance of FM would fail, which would result in a severe oil wedge effect on the rail specimen. Therefore, the application of FM could induce a higher wear rate and severe RCF damages on rail material at the low temperature condition. The results of the present study could provide guidance for the development and design of FMs used in cold regions.

Low temperature conditions can aggravate the wear and fatigue damage of the wheel and the rail materials. Friction modifier (FM) is used to control the adhesion and alleviate the wear and damage. However, the wear and damage behaviours of wheel and rail with the application of FM under low temperature have not been revealed. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effect of FM on the wear and the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage of the wheel and the rail under low temperature conditions. Tests were conducted on a rolling-sliding wear testing apparatus with the samples enclosed in a temperature-controlled chamber. The results indicated that the effect of FM on the wear and the RCF damage of the wheel and the rail was influenced by the tem-perature significantly. Compared with the dry condition, the wear rate of the wheel decreased obviously at all temperature conditions when using FM. Meanwhile, the RCF damage of the wheel was relatively slight. Besides, there was no significant difference among the RCF damage of the wheel at different temperatures both under the dry and the FM conditions. At room temperature, the application of FM could alleviate the RCF damage of the rail. Under the low temperature condition, the performance of FM would fail, which would result in a severe oil wedge effect on the rail specimen. Therefore, the application of FM could induce a higher wear rate and severe RCF damages on rail material at the low temperature condition. The results of the present study could provide guidance for the development and design of FMs used in cold regions.

Friction modifier; Low temperature; Wheel and rail; Wear; Rolling contact fatigue

15.06.2023

ELSEVIER

LAUSANNE

0043-1648

523

June

10