Full-scale testing of low adhesion effects with small amounts of water in the wheel/rail interface

Publication date: Available online 16 August 2019Source: Tribology InternationalAuthor(s): L.E. Buckley-Johnstone, G. Trummer, P. Voltr, K. Six, R. LewisAbstractLow adhesion in the wheel/rail contact can be caused by small amounts of water combining with iron oxides. This happens in light rain or at dew point. In small-scale tests, ultra-low adhesion (≤0.05) has not been maintained. The aim here was to see if the mechanism could be realized at a larger scale. Sustained ultra-low adhesion was achieved when water was applied constantly to the wheel/rail contact at a rate of 25μL/s. In these conditions wear debris and oxide was clearly visible in the contact band. Creep force data has been generated that can now be used to inform wheel/rail contact models and multi-body dynamics simulations of train behaviour with a view to developing mitigation.
Source: Tribology International - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research
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