THE SUBSURFACE CHARACTERISTICS OF PEARLITIC RAIL STEELS FOLLOWING SERVICE IN UK

F. A. M. Alwahdi; A. Kapoor; F. J. Franklin

doi:10.66411/jer.v9i9.166

Authors

F. A. M. Alwahdi Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Omar Almukhtar, P. O. Box 390 M Elbyada, Libya Author
A. Kapoor School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, University of Newcastle, Stephenson Building, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK Author
F. J. Franklin School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, University of Newcastle, Stephenson Building, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66411/jer.v9i9.166

Keywords:

Strain hardening, Rail steel, Pearlitic steel, Microhardness, White-etching layer

Abstract

Ductile materials commonly exhibit plastic deformation at and near the contact surface and their flow behavior at large strains has a clear effect on wear resistance. These materials almost always fail while under high levels of compression, but behaviour under these conditions cannot be investigated by standard materials tests at atmospheric pressure. In this work, the characteristics of the near-surface region of one new and four used rails are examined using samples taken from rails that have been in service in UK. The results are presented as stress-strain response curves from the materials under high hydrostatic compression conditions, which are typical of rail-wheel contacts. In addition, shear strain and hardness variation with depth below the worn rail surface are presented, along with micrographs of the sites examined. A thin white surface layer, frequently called white etching layer (WEL), with high hardness (up to 1040 HV) was observed on the surface of one of the used rails. These results have application in the modelling of rail failure by wear and in modelling rolling contact fatigue crack initiation, and can therefore be used to improve rail maintenance planning and risk assessments

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