NTL Record

Title Fracture resistance and fatigue crack growth characteristics of railroad wheels and axles
Record ID 46161
Personal Name
Creator
Carter, C. S.; Caton, R. G.; Guthrie, J. L.
Source 138p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator Boeing Company. Commercial Airplane Division for 1992-
Corporate
Contributor
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
Publisher John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Publication Date 19771130
Language English
Abstract The effects of chemical composition, temperature and loading rates on the plane strain fracture toughness K sub I sub c of railroad wheels have been determined. Similarly, the effects of these variables were determined for grade U and F railroads axles. The carbon content was determined to be the principal factor controlling K sub I sub c. Sensitivity to loading rate (K sub I sub d) was seen to be a function of the microstructure. Estimates have been made of the minimum size of crack, which could result in the failure of wheels and axles under adverse service conditions. Also investigated were the effects of chemical composition, heat treatment, temperature, stress ratio (R), environment and peak loads on the fatigue crack growth characteristics of wheels and axles. It was seen that the effects of R could be predicted by the Forman equation and that crack growth rates were predominantly affected by R. Otherwise, all values fell within the same scatterband. Predictions of crack growth to criticality as a function of cycles were made for wheels and axles. Based on these calculations, it was concluded that detection of subcritical flaws with a good degree of confidence would only be possible for the classes A and sub A wheels and the grades U and F axles.
Rosap ID dot:9680
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9680
TRT Terms Axles; Railroad wheels; Fatigue cracking; Fracture mechanics; Mathematical prediction; Carbon steel; Temperature; Railroad safety; Mechanical fatigue; Metallurgy
General Subjects Railroad wheels; Railroad axles; Carbon steels; Fracture toughness; Fatigue crack growth rates
Classification NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Safety
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
196980
Contract Number RR728/R8309
Report Number DOT-TSC-FRA-77-20; FRA/ORD-77/50
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/46000/46100/46161/DOT-TSC-FRA-77-20.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository