Author(s)

Y. Taran, V. Yessaulov, A. Sladkovsky, A. Kozlovsky & S. Gubenko

Abstract

Improved design of tread profile is a way to enhance wheel performance. Computer aided analysis of contact interaction in the wheel - rail pair was used to improve the design. A decrease in the contact pressure was achieved due to changed working surface profiles. Also decreased was the relative longitudinal slip at wheel and rail surfaces. The design perfecting work included metallographic characterization of steel structure changes occurring across the tread in long operation. Computation results for contact stresses agreed well with the metallographic data on used wheels. Laser beam hardening of tread surface by continuous and pulsed illumination was tested as a way to reduce

Keywords