Analysis of Transverse Cracks Forming in a Railway Axle

Abstract:

Surface defect is the main form of axle failure. In this paper, the cause of surface defect on wheel seat of a certain type of dynamic axle is analyzed systematically. In the test, the macroscopic chemical component of inspection axle was determined using spectrometer. And the chemical composition near the crack was detected by energy disperse spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The microstructure of the crack area was observed by optical microscope, while the crack microscopic characteristic was characterized using scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope. The study found that, the defect is transverse crack, which was distributed circumferentially along the wheel seat. Further more, the typical features of wear or friction and iron oxide was observed on the wheel seat near the crack area. It was concluded that, due to surface presure and the existence of stress concentration, which the wheel and axle interference fit resulted in, wear abrasion and fretting fatigue initiated fatigue crack.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 944)
• Pages: 404-410
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.944.404
• Online since: January 2019
• Authors: Hong Xiang Yin
• Keywords: Axle, Fatigue Crack, Fretting Wear, Iron Oxide, Tiny Cracks

References

[1] Y. Gotoh, H. Ohuchida, Effect of Corrosive Environment on fretting fatigue under plane bending. The Society of Materials Science, Japan. 38 (1988) 816-824.

DOI: 10.2472/jsms.38.816

[2] K. Hirakawa, K. Toyama, M. Kubota, The analysis and prevention of failure in railway axles. Intemational Joumal of Fatigue. 20 (2005) 135-144.

DOI: 10.1016/s0142-1123(97)00096-0

[3] M.N. Huang, F. Zeng, Z.R. Zhou, Analysis and counter measure of fretting damage on wheel/axle interface. Railway locomotive & car. 30 (2010) 20-24.

[4] X.S. Jiang, G.Q He, B Liu, X.Y. Xiang, Z.G. Hu, M.H. Zhu, Research progress in mechanism and protection methods of material fretting fatigue. Materials Review. 22 (2008) 10-13.

[5] K. Nishioka, K. Hirakawa, Fundanmental investigations of fretting fatigue(Part 5).The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. 12 (1969) 692-697.

[6] K. Nishioka, K. Hirakawa, Fundanmental investigations of fretting fatigue(Part 6)[J]. The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. 12 (1969) 408-414.

[7] J.F. Peng, M.H. Zhu, Z.B. Cai, On the damage mechanisms of bending fretting fatigue [J]. Tribology International. 76 (2014) 133-141.

DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2013.12.018

[8] C. Song, J.H. Liu, J.F. Peng, L. Zhang, Y. Zhou, M.H. Zhu. 2014. Effect of contact stress on rotating bending fretting fatigue life of railway axle steel. Journal of Materials Engineering. 2 (2014) 34-38.

[9] G.A. Tomlinson 1927. The rusting of steel surface in contact. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (A). (1927) 472-483.

[10] Warlow-Davies E. J. 1941. Fretting corrosion and fatigue strength: brief results of preliminary experiments. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. (1941) 32-38.

DOI: 10.1243/pime_proc_1941_146_012_02

[11] Q.J. Wu, Study on mechanism of friction fatigue of JZ steel. Journal of Lanzhou Railway Institute. 16(1997) 67-72.

[12] J.F. Zheng, J. Luo, J.F. Peng, X.S. Jin, M.H. Zhu, Characteristics of Fretting Wear of LZ50 Steel. Journal of the China Railway of Society. 32 (2010) 33-37.