Abstract
Rail grinding as a maintenance strategy plays an important role in controlling rail defects due to rolling contact fatigue, noise reduction, and train stability by reshaping the rail. However, the effect of roughness topography of the rail surface after a grinding process has not been extensively studied in terms of friction coefficient and running-in behaviour.In this work, rail disks specimens with different textures were characterized by different roughness parameters: Ra, Rq, Rt, Rp, Rv, Rz, Ssk, and Sku. All the textures were achieved by varying the amount of material removed and the work speed by using some emery stones with similar properties in rail grinders. The tests were performed by using a pin-on-disk tribometer in dry and grease-lubricated conditions. Pin specimens were manufactured from a wheel section with standard roughness.The results showed that in dry conditions, rail disk specimens with rougher surface patterns yield a higher friction coefficient and higher wear rate. On the other hand, under lubricated conditions, a rough surface does not give a low static friction coefficient in some cases. Additionally, microstructural analyses were carried out on the cross-section of rail specimens and some images were taken from the existing wear scars identifying the wear mechanisms and finding in some textures the presence of a white etching layer (WEL) and a brown etching layer (BEL).
Published Version
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