Abstract
In railway network, friction is an important factor to consider in terms of the service behaviors of wheel-rail system. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a solid friction modifier (FM) in a railway environment. This was achieved by studying the friction, wear, and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage on the wheel-rail materials at different slip ratios. The results showed that when a solid FM was applied, the friction coefficient decreased. After the solid FM was separated from the wheel-rail interface, the friction coefficient gradually increased to its original level. With the application of the solid FM, the wear rates of the wheel-rail decreased. In addition, the thickness and hardness of the plastic deformation layers of the wheel-rail materials were reduced. The worn surfaces of the wheel-rail were dominated by pits and RCF cracks. Without the FM, RCF cracks ranged from 84 to 120 µm, and subsurface cracks were generated. However, with the FM, RCF cracks ranged from 17 to 97 µm and no subsurface cracks were generated. These findings indicate possible methods of improving the performance of railway rolling stock by managing friction, and reducing wear and permanent RCF damage affecting both the wheels and rails.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Key R&D Program Intergovernmental Key Items for International Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation (No. 2018YFE0109400), Sichuan Science and Technology Program (No. 2020YFH0057), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2682020CX29). The study was also carried out under the Project 8JCH1042 with financial support from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
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Jingdong SONG. He received his B.S. degree in transportation from Ludong University, China, in 2013. He received his M.S. degree in vehicle engineering from Southwest Jiaotong University, China, in 2019. He is studying at the Institute of Aeronautics Engine, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University as a Ph.D. student. He is now focusing on the wheel-rail tribology and surface engineering.
Lubing SHI. He received his B.S. degree in industrial engineering in 2013 from Xi’an Polytechnic University, China. He is studying at the Tribology Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University, as a Ph.D. student. He is now focusing on the adhesion of wheel and rail.
Haohao DING. He received his Ph.D. degree in materials science from Ecole Centrale de Lyon, France, in 2018. Then he joined the Tribology Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University, China. His current position is an assistant professor. His research interests include the wheel-rail tribology, laser surface treatment, coating, etc.
Radovan GALAS. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, in 2011, 2013, and 2018, respectively. His current position is an assistant professor and a member of Railway Research Group at Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. His research focuses on wheel-rail tribology, especially on friction management methods.
Milan OMASTA. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, in 2007, 2009, and 2013, respectively. His current position is an assistant professor and the head of Railway Research Group at Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. His research areas cover friction and lubrication between wheel and rail and elastohydrodynamic lubrication.
Wenjian WANG. He received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical design and theory from Southwest Jiaotong University, China, in 2008. Then he continued to work at the Tribology Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University. His current position is a researcher. His research interests include the wheel-rail friction control technology, wheel-rail wear and damage evaluation technology, laser surface treatment, etc.
Jun GUO. He received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical design and theory from Southwest Jiaotong University, China, in 2007. Then he continued to work at Southwest Jiaotong University. His current position is a researcher. His research interests include the rail grinding technology, wheel-rail wear, rolling contact fatigue, etc.
Qiyue LIU. He received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical design and theory from Southwest Jiaotong University, China, in 1999. Then he continued to work at the Tribology Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University. His current position is a professor. His research interests include the tribology, wheel-rail service and reliability, mechanical engineering, etc.
Martin HARTL. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, in 1990 and 1997, respectively. His current position is a professor and the head of Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. His research areas cover the boundary, mixed and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, roughness effect, and biotribology.
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Song, J., Shi, L., Ding, H. et al. Effects of solid friction modifier on friction and rolling contact fatigue damage of wheel-rail surfaces. Friction 10, 597–607 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-021-0521-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-021-0521-5