Experimental investigation on the effect of contact forces on uneven longitudinal wear of rail material

Abstract

The effect of contact forces on rail uneven longitudinal wear was investigated using three series of rolling tests, including tests with the same tangential force and varying normal force, tests with the same normal force and varying tangential force, and tests with varying tangential and normal forces. Results indicated that the effect of tangential force on rail uneven longitudinal wear was greater than that of normal force. When the tangential force was the same, rail uneven longitudinal wear occurred under the small normal force condition. As the normal force increased, the wear rate decreased. With the same normal force, rail uneven longitudinal wear occurred under the large tangential force condition. The main damage of the unevenly worn rail was oxidative wear and fatigue wear. The oxidative wear and ploughing were more severe at the crest. Plastic deformation, the degree of grain refinement and fatigue cracks were more severe at the trough. More severe fatigue cracks at the trough lead to more severe wear and then the aggravation of rail uneven longitudinal wear.