Title Addressing perceptions regarding the influence of relative hardness on wheel/rail performance
Author Stock, R
Oldknow, K
Magel, E
Conference 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems, 4-7 September 2022, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Publication Date 2022
Location ARRB library
Abstract An age-old debate amongst railway practitioners has revolved around the potential effects of increased wheel and/or rail steel hardness on corresponding wear rates. In specific, whether raising the hardness of one partner in the wheel-rail system will have a deleterious impact on the wear rate of the other. This paper addresses this question based on an literature review, as well as a survey that was sent to railway practitioners around the world. The key findings (perceptions) are discussed, and it is shown that in some cases these intuitive perceptions do not reflect the actual rail-wheel system behaviour.
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CM 2022_Stock
Subjects Railway track
Rolling contact
Wear
Hardness
Maintenance
Rail transport